ACTOR · BORN 1958
Michelle Pfeiffer
- Born
- 29 April 1958, Santa Ana, California, USA
- Known for
- Avengers: Endgame (2019), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Scarface (1983), The Simpsons (1989)
94 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
Michelle Pfeiffer: 20 Facts About Characters and Roles
- #002
A mishap occurred while Michelle Pfeiffer was auditioning for Scarface (1983): a piece of broken glass injured the film's star, Al Pacino. Although the incident heightened the tension of the audition process, it did not affect Pfeiffer's performance, and she went on to win the role. The accident is recounted as a curious anecdote about the film that became one of the turning points of her career.
- #004
Michelle Pfeiffer shared an unusual experience with the iconic Catwoman costume from Batman Returns (1992) on the A&E Biography program. Once she was fitted into the costume for scenes, it was sealed with a vacuum, which restricted her movement. She therefore had to complete her performance quickly, or she could become dizzy and faint. These difficult conditions show how much she sacrificed for the role.
- #012
Michelle Pfeiffer replaced Annette Bening as Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) after Bening had to leave the project because of her pregnancy. Taking on the role led Pfeiffer to portray one of the most iconic characters of her career. Her Catwoman performance won great praise from both critics and audiences and cemented her place in cinema history.
- #026
Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the role played by Ashley Judd in Double Jeopardy (1999). Behind this decision lay Pfeiffer's project choices and personal preferences at the time. Ashley Judd, who took on the role, achieved great success with the film, and the production performed well at the box office. Pfeiffer's rejection of this role can be seen as an indication of a different direction in her career.
- #027
Michelle Pfeiffer was offered the role of Vivian Ward, played by Julia Roberts, in Pretty Woman (1990), but she turned it down because she did not like the 'tone' of the script. The role became a turning point in Julia Roberts's career and made her a star. Pfeiffer's decision shows her meticulousness in choosing scripts and her desire to move toward different projects.
- #029
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Eva Perón in Evita (1996) and even took several months of vocal training for the part while the film was to be directed by Oliver Stone. However, the project was reshaped after Stone left, and the role ultimately went to Madonna. The preparation Pfeiffer put in for this role shows how seriously she approached such ambitious projects.
- #031
Michelle Pfeiffer was one of the names considered for the lead role in Mamma Mia! (2008). However, the role ultimately went to Meryl Streep. Streep's performance drove the film to great success and won the admiration of audiences who love musicals. Pfeiffer's missing out on this role is remembered as another 'missed opportunity' in her career.
- #033
Michelle Pfeiffer was to star in a project titled 'Mistress of the Seas,' to be directed by Paul Verhoeven and produced by Jon Peters. The film focused on the true story of two female pirates, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, who sailed the Caribbean in the 18th century with a pirate named Calico Jack. Pfeiffer and Geena Davis were planned to share the lead roles, but the project fell apart when Davis signed on for her own pirate film, Cutthroat Island (1995). Pfeiffer withdrew from the project after her meetings with Verhoeven, and the film was never made.
- #041
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Vicki Vale in Batman (1989), but she was dating Michael Keaton at the time and Keaton felt it would not be right for them to work together, so Pfeiffer turned the role down. She later played Catwoman in the sequel Batman Returns (1992). The decision is a striking example of how her personal relationships affected her career.
- #049
Michelle Pfeiffer auditioned for the role of Jade Butterfield in Franco Zeffirelli's Endless Love (1981) but was rejected. Zeffirelli gave the part to a much younger actress, Brooke Shields, and later regretted the decision. Pfeiffer's rejection at this early stage illustrates the difficulties and perseverance of her career.
- #052
In 2000, Empire magazine published its list of the '69 Sexiest Movie Characters of All Time,' and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman/Selina Kyle from Batman Returns (1992) placed third. The ranking shows how iconic and memorable her take on Catwoman was. Pfeiffer's performance is considered one of the most unforgettable roles of her career.
- #060
Michelle Pfeiffer competed with Daryl Hannah for the lead role in Ron Howard's Splash (1984), but Hannah won the part. The film gave Hannah a major breakthrough and established her name in comedy. Pfeiffer's loss of the role illustrates the difficulties of her early career.
- #065
Michelle Pfeiffer auditioned for the role of 'Tiffany Wells' in the series Charlie's Angels (1976) but was rejected. The role ultimately went to Shelley Hack. This early rejection illustrates the difficulties at the start of Pfeiffer's career, though the experience became a source of motivation for her later successes.
- #067
Before Michelle Pfeiffer took the lead role in Chéri (2009), Jessica Lange had been attached to the project for years. Lange also received a producer credit on the film. Pfeiffer took over the role after the project's long development process. The film became one of the notable productions of her mature period.
- #077
The film Passion of Mind began development specifically for Michelle Pfeiffer in the late 1980s. However, when the project finally reached the shooting stage a decade later, Pfeiffer could not accept the role because her schedule was full. The film was then made with Demi Moore in the lead. This shows how long and uncertain a project's development can be in Hollywood; Pfeiffer's loss of the role can be seen as the loss of an important opportunity in her career.
- #079
Michelle Pfeiffer briefly considered taking the lead in the boxing drama Against the Ropes (2004) but later turned the offer down. The role went to Meg Ryan, and the film failed to achieve the expected success at the box office. Pfeiffer's distance from the project can be seen as a good decision in her career, since the film received negative reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment.
- #081
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Princess Irulan in the 1984 film adaptation of Frank Herbert's cult science-fiction novel Dune, but the part went to Virginia Madsen. The film was directed by David Lynch and stood out for its visual effects. Missing out on the role meant Pfeiffer also lost the chance to appear in the science-fiction genre.
- #084
Michelle Pfeiffer was offered the role of Slim Keith in Infamous (2006), the film about Truman Capote's life, but she turned it down; the part ultimately went to Hope Davis. The film recounts Capote's experiences while writing his book In Cold Blood.
- #087
Michelle Pfeiffer was the first choice for the female lead in City Island (2009), a comedy-drama about a family's secrets and dreams. She was expected to take the role, but it ultimately went to another actor.
- #091
Michelle Pfeiffer was considered for the role of Golly in Nickelodeon's film adaptation of Harriet the Spy (1996), but the part went to Rosie O'Donnell. The film centered on a young girl's spying adventures and was one of the era's popular children's productions.
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