Actress Michelle Pfeiffer has shut down speculation that she is retiring from Hollywood after clarifying that recent comments about movie roles were misinterpreted during an interview on Thursday.
The 68-year-old star sparked widespread retirement rumors earlier this month after revealing she "never wants to star in another movie," leading fans to believe she was stepping away after a career spanning almost five decades. Appearing on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Pfeiffer set the record straight about her future in acting.
"They're always saying that I'm retiring. I never said [that]," Pfeiffer told Fallon. When the host noted that she "kind of hinted at it," the three-time Oscar nominee explained that her statement simply reflected her growing love for television projects rather than a departure from performance entirely.
"It's wonderful to be able to live with a character for such an extended period of time," Pfeiffer explained, adding that television roles allow her to "really just go deeper and find all of the different layers."
Pfeiffer established herself as one of Hollywood's leading figures through iconic film performances, including her roles in Scarface, Batman Returns and Dangerous Liaisons. However, her focus has recently shifted toward television, where she has starred in two major small-screen series this year.
Shift to television roles
Pfeiffer has taken on central roles in two small-screen projects this year: The Madison and Margo's Got Money Troubles. Both productions have proven to be major hits, with Pfeiffer serving as an executive producer on both projects alongside her starring roles.
Her performance in Margo's Got Money Troubles earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series. Based on the novel by Rufi Thorpe, the series follows a young single mother, played by Elle Fanning, who opens an OnlyFans account to support her family. Pfeiffer stars as Fanning's mother, appearing alongside a cast that includes Hollywood mainstay Nicole Kidman and musician Rico Nasty. Season 1 of the show is currently streaming on Apple TV.
Montana drama and family ties
Pfeiffer's second major television project this year is The Madison, a contemporary Western series created by Yellowstone mastermind Taylor Sheridan. The drama follows the Clyburn family as they travel to Montana following the death of family patriarch Preston, played by Kurt Russell. Pfeiffer plays Preston's widow, Stacy.
The actress's pivot to small-screen drama comes as no surprise given her marriage to television titan David E. Kelley, whom she married in 1993. Kelley is the creator of several hit series, including Doogie Howser, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal and Boston Public.
Kelley also serves as the showrunner for Margo's Got Money Troubles. The production marks the very first time the couple have worked together on a television project during their 33-year marriage.
