Michelle Pfeiffer’s Best Roles
Michelle Pfeiffer has graced the screen for decades with a captivating blend of beauty, talent, and intelligence, establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s most enduring and respected stars. She rose to fame in the 1980s and quickly demonstrated an incredible versatility, effortlessly moving between genres to create a gallery of unforgettable characters. Her performances are often marked by a quiet strength and a deep emotional complexity that draws audiences in.
Whether she is playing a glamorous femme fatale, a resilient heroine, or a complex villain, she brings a unique and compelling energy to every role. Her ability to convey vulnerability and power, often at the same time, has led to numerous accolades and a legacy of iconic film moments. Her impressive body of work showcases a career built on bold choices and consistently brilliant performances.
‘Scarface’ (1983)
She made an unforgettable impression as Elvira Hancock, the coolly elegant and sharp-tongued trophy girlfriend of a Miami drug lord. Her character is introduced as an object of desire for the ambitious Tony Montana, who eventually wins her over after his violent rise to power. Elvira embodies the seductive but ultimately hollow glamour of the criminal world.
Her journey through the film is a tragic one, as she descends into a deep spiral of addiction and disillusionment that mirrors Tony’s own downfall. Although she has limited screen time, her icy presence and eventual emotional breakdown are a crucial part of this iconic crime epic.
‘The Witches of Eastwick’ (1987)
She stars as Sukie Ridgemont, a shy newspaper columnist and single mother to a large brood of children in a picturesque New England town. Along with her two best friends, she unknowingly forms a coven, and the three women idly wish for a man to come and spice up their lives.
Their wish is granted with the arrival of the mysterious and charismatic Daryl Van Horne, who seduces each of them and awakens their latent magical powers. Her character blossoms under his influence, gaining confidence and discovering a strength she never knew she had in this supernatural comedy.
‘Married to the Mob’ (1988)
She showcased her comedic talents as Angela de Marco, the wife of a philandering mobster who desperately wants to leave the criminal lifestyle behind. When her husband is “iced,” she sees her chance to escape, selling her garish Long Island home and moving to a small New York City apartment with her son.
Her plans for a normal life are complicated when she finds herself pursued by a charming but ruthless mob boss and a handsome undercover FBI agent who is investigating her. Her performance as a woman trying to start over was widely praised and earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (1988)
She delivered a powerful performance as Madame de Tourvel, a devoutly religious and virtuous married woman who becomes the target of a cynical wager. The notorious womanizer Vicomte de Valmont bets his former lover that he can successfully seduce the famously chaste Madame de Tourvel.
Her character’s emotional and spiritual torment as she tries to resist Valmont’s calculated advances is the heart of the film. Her portrayal of a good woman’s tragic struggle between faith and passion is both heartbreaking and compelling, earning her an Academy Award nomination.
‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ (1989)
She became a screen icon as Susie Diamond, a tough, cynical, and fiercely independent singer who joins a struggling piano duo played by two brothers. Her modern style and sultry voice instantly breathe new life into their stale lounge act, but her presence also creates a rift between them.
The role allowed her to showcase both her dramatic and musical talents, as she did her own singing for the film’s soundtrack. Her smoldering performance, highlighted by an unforgettable scene where she sings “Makin’ Whoopee” atop a piano, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
‘Batman Returns’ (1992)
She created the definitive portrayal of Selina Kyle and her alter ego, Catwoman. Initially a meek and downtrodden secretary, Selina is pushed to her breaking point and undergoes a stunning transformation into the whip-wielding, latex-clad antiheroine of Gotham City.
Her Catwoman is a complex figure, driven by a mix of righteous fury and deep-seated vulnerability. She shares a magnetic and complicated chemistry with both Batman and Bruce Wayne, making her one of the most compelling and beloved characters in the history of comic book movies.
‘Love Field’ (1992)
She plays Lurene Hallett, a Texas housewife in the early 1960s who idolizes First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. When President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, a devastated Lurene defies her husband and takes a cross-country bus trip to attend the funeral in Washington, D.C.
On her journey, she befriends a quiet Black man and his young daughter, an act that challenges the era’s segregationist norms. The trip becomes a profound journey of self-discovery, forcing her to confront her own naive prejudices and the harsh realities of the world. The role earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination.
‘The Age of Innocence’ (1993)
She stars as Countess Ellen Olenska, a bold and independent American who has returned to the rigid high society of 1870s New York after separating from her cruel husband. Considered scandalous by her peers, she struggles to fit into the suffocating social conventions of the time.
Her character finds a kindred spirit in Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to her cousin, and they fall into a deeply felt but forbidden love. Her portrayal of a woman torn between her desire for freedom and her duty to her family is the emotional anchor of this beautifully crafted period drama.
‘Dangerous Minds’ (1995)
She stars as LouAnne Johnson, a real-life former Marine who accepts a teaching position at a high school in a low-income area of California. She is put in charge of a classroom of bright but cynical students who have been labeled as underachievers by the school system.
Faced with their resistance, she throws away the standard curriculum and uses unconventional methods, including karate and Bob Dylan lyrics, to engage them and build their trust. The film was a massive box office success, praised for its inspirational story and her compelling lead performance.
‘What Lies Beneath’ (2000)
She plays Claire Spencer, a woman living a seemingly idyllic life with her scientist husband in a beautiful lakeside home. When she begins to hear whispers and see a ghostly apparition, she initially fears she is losing her mind, but soon becomes convinced her house is haunted.
Her investigation into the supernatural occurrences leads her to believe the ghost is a missing student from the local college. As she digs deeper, she uncovers terrifying secrets about her husband and their perfect life in this tense and effective supernatural thriller.
‘White Oleander’ (2002)
She delivered a chilling performance as Ingrid Magnussen, a brilliant but dangerously narcissistic artist and poet. When her lover leaves her, she murders him with a poison derived from her favorite flower and is sentenced to life in prison, leaving her teenage daughter Astrid to navigate the foster care system.
Even from behind bars, Ingrid continues to exert a powerful and destructive psychological hold over Astrid. Her character is a captivating and terrifying portrait of a manipulative mother whose love is conditional and cruel.
‘Hairspray’ (2007)
She embraced her villainous side as Velma Von Tussle, the scheming and prejudiced manager of a Baltimore television station in the 1960s. Velma is the producer of a popular teen dance competition and is willing to do anything to ensure her daughter, Amber, wins the crown and remains in the spotlight.
As the main antagonist, she relentlessly tries to sabotage the film’s cheerful heroine, Tracy Turnblad, and is fiercely opposed to racially integrating the show. The role allowed her to showcase her comedic and musical talents in this vibrant and beloved movie musical.
‘Stardust’ (2007)
She plays the ancient and powerful witch queen Lamia in this charming fantasy adventure. Lamia and her two sisters are seeking a fallen star to cut out its heart, which will grant them eternal youth and beauty. When a star lands in their magical realm, Lamia sets out to capture it.
The star has taken the form of a young woman, and Lamia’s relentless pursuit of her is both menacing and darkly comedic. With every use of her magic, Lamia’s body decays and ages, making her increasingly desperate and dangerous as the story progresses.
‘Mother!’ (2017)
She appears in a key supporting role as a character simply named “Woman.” She is one of the first mysterious strangers to arrive uninvited at the secluded home of a couple, disrupting their tranquil existence. Her character is provocative, rude, and completely dismisses the homeowner’s requests for privacy.
Her arrival, along with that of her husband, triggers a series of escalating and surreal events that descend into chaos. She is a crucial and unsettling presence in the film’s allegorical story, representing a disruptive and boundary-crossing force of human nature.
‘French Exit’ (2020)
She stars as Frances Price, a widowed and fiercely witty New York socialite who discovers her vast inheritance has run out. Facing insolvency, she decides to spend her remaining money on a final, fateful trip to Paris with her devoted but aimless adult son.
Her character navigates her impending doom with a mix of glamour, sharp one-liners, and a surprising amount of grace. It is a darkly comedic and poignant performance that captures the absurdity and tragedy of her situation, earning her a Golden Globe nomination.
Tell us which Michelle Pfeiffer role you believe is her absolute best in the comments.