Michelle Pfeiffer says she is finished starring in movies. The 68-year-old actress told an audience at THR x Apple TV's Leading the Narrative: The Women of Apple TV event on Sunday that she wants to focus on ensemble television work instead.
"I never want to star in another movie, I swear to God," Pfeiffer said. "I only want to do ensemble pieces. It's so much more fun, I love it so much," she added, saying she has been "bowled over by the female performances on television" and that women are "really owning TV."
The shift comes after two hit TV projects for Pfeiffer: The Madison and Margo's Got Money Troubles. She is an executive producer on both shows, and her role in Margo's Got Money Troubles earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Margo's Got Money Troubles
Margo's Got Money Troubles was created by David E. Kelley and is adapted from the novel of the same name by Rufi Thorpe. The show follows a young single mother, played by Elle Fanning, who opens an OnlyFans account to support her family. Pfeiffer plays Fanning's mother, and the series also stars Nicole Kidman and Rico Nasty. Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV.
Pfeiffer appeared on Sunday's panel alongside Fanning, Dale Dickey, Karolina Wydra, Rhea Seehorn and Jessica Williams. She said the show's characters reminded her of a Robin Williams quote: "Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, and be kind." She said that "kind of, for me, sums up the show and the message of the show, and I'm really proud to be a part of it."
The Madison
Pfeiffer's other project, The Madison, is a contemporary Western created by Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone. It follows the Clyburn family as they move to Montana after the death of patriarch Preston, played by Kurt Russell. Pfeiffer plays Preston's widow, Stacy, who tries to hold the family together as they adjust to rural Montana life after years in New York City. The Madison streams on Paramount+ and has already been renewed for a second season.
Pfeiffer has revealed she agreed to join The Madison without reading a script. She told Variety that Sheridan reached out and asked to meet her, so she flew to Texas and visited his ranch, where he described the character's arc and the concept of the show in broad terms. When she asked when she could read something, she said he told her he wanted to know who he was writing for before he started, so she would need to commit first.
To vet Sheridan, Pfeiffer called her friend Helen Mirren, who had worked with him on the Yellowstone prequel 1923. Mirren spoke highly of Sheridan, and Pfeiffer signed on to The Madison with no script in hand.
Her film legacy
Pfeiffer's pivot to television follows a screen career that includes her breakout role as Elvira Hancock in 1983's Scarface and her turn as Catwoman in 1992's Batman Returns.
She earned three Academy Award nominations for her performances in Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) and Love Field (1992). Her other film credits include I Am Sam, White Oleander, Tequila Sunrise, Married to the Mob and The Witches of Eastwick.
