Michelle Pfeiffer, 67, Is Still Stunning 43 Years After ‘Scarface’
Michelle Pfeiffer, 67, has been captivating audiences for more than four decades, ever since she appeared in Brian De Palma’s Scarface in 1983. Before that breakthrough role, Pfeiffer’s career started slowly. She made her acting debut in 1978 with a single episode of Fantasy Island and had small parts in TV shows like Delta House, CHiPs, and Enos.
She also appeared in TV movies such as The Solitary Man (1979) and three 1981 television films, including Callie and Son. She studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and appeared in commercials, but her first major film role came in 1982 with Grease 2.
The film was a flop, yet critics noted Pfeiffer stood out. The New York Times wrote, “[A]lthough she is a relative screen newcomer, Miss Pfeiffer manages to look much more insouciant and comfortable than anyone else in the cast.” Despite praise, Pfeiffer later said, “I needed to learn how to act … in the meantime, I was playing bimbos and cashing in on my looks.”
Her career changed with Scarface, where she played cocaine-addicted trophy wife Elvira Hancock. De Palma initially refused to audition her, but producer Martin Bregman convinced him. The film was violent and controversial but became a commercial hit. Critics noticed her performance.
Richard Corliss of Time Magazine wrote, “most of the large cast is fine: Michelle Pfeiffer is better …” and Vanity Fair’s Dominick Dunne added, “[s]he is on the verge of stardom. In the parlance of the industry, she is hot.” Following Scarface, Pfeiffer took on a mix of roles in films like Ladyhawke, Into the Night, and Sweet Liberty.
Her big box-office success came with The Witches of Eastwick in 1987, starring alongside Jack Nicholson, Cher, and Susan Sarandon. Roger Ebert praised the actresses’ chemistry, saying they “have a delicious good time with their roles.”
Pfeiffer continued to take on varied roles in the late 1980s, earning her first Golden Globe nomination for Married to the Mob and a BAFTA win plus an Oscar nomination for Dangerous Liaisons. In 1989, she starred as Susie Diamond in The Fabulous Baker Boys, performing all of her character’s singing. Critics called it her finest performance. Ebert compared her to Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe, adding that it would serve as a key marker in her rise to stardom.
The 1990s brought more successes. She starred in The Russia House, Frankie and Johnny, and became Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. Critics widely praised her performance as Selina Kyle, calling it one of the best portrayals of Catwoman ever. Pfeiffer also formed her production company, Via Rosa Productions, producing films such as Dangerous Minds and One Fine Day while continuing to act. She played roles in Wolf, A Thousand Acres, and The Prince of Egypt, often receiving critical acclaim.
In the 2000s, Pfeiffer slowed down to focus on her family but returned in films like Hairspray and Stardust in 2007, both marking a successful comeback. She continued with roles in Chéri, New Year’s Eve, People Like Us, Dark Shadows, and The Family. Pfeiffer said in 2017, “The only trepidation was I think I took for granted how nice it was to not be under the spotlight and just having a life … I have a lot more to do, and a lot more to say. I’m never going to be one that retires.”
In recent years, she has starred in Where Is Kyra?, The Wizard of Lies, Mother!, Murder on the Orient Express, French Exit, and The First Lady, and she returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Janet van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Pfeiffer continues to take challenging roles, showing she remains one of Hollywood’s most talented and versatile actresses.
Pfeiffer’s career shows her ability to evolve, from teen star to respected leading lady. Her performance in Scarface was a turning point, opening doors that led to decades of acclaimed work. What do you think is Michelle Pfeiffer’s most unforgettable role? Share your thoughts in the comments.