From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Nancy Elizabeth Stafford (born June 5, 1954) is an American prolific character actress of stage, speaker and author, known for her roles in soap operas and television. She came to prominence in the 1980s as Ben Matlock's (played by Andy Griffith) law partner and friend, Michelle Thomas, on Matlock (a role she played from 1987 to 1992), before she played Judge Bell on Judging Amy. She hosted a syndicated TV series called "Main Floor" (1995–2005), a show abo...