By her own admission, Michelle Pfeiffer is rarely a risk-taker. It explains why the “Batman Returns” actor so keenly remembers her audition for Richard Donner’s 1985 medieval fantasy film “Ladyhawke.” To nab the role of a woman cursed to spend her days as a hawk (her paramour spends his nights as a wolf), Pfeiffer took the kind of risk any actor currently putting themselves on tape today and hoping to get noticed can understand. And before you ask: Yes, it did involve a visit to the pet store.
Michelle Pfeiffer Isn’t Done Defying Our Expectations How did you first get your SAG-AFTRA card?
I think it was my first job. I did one line on “Fantasy Island.” The line was: “Who is he, Naomi?”
What’s one performance every actor should see and why?
Oh, gosh, I don't think there is one performance. There are so many amazing performances that stand out for different reasons. You know, from Sally Field in “Sybil” to Marlon Brando in “Streetcar” to Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” to Joaquin [Phoenix] in “Joker.” There are just so many incredible performances. I just couldn't name one.
Do you have an audition horror story you can share with us?
Well, I guess my most famous one, even though it actually, I think, got me the job. I did a screen test for “Scarface” and Al [Pacino] was in the screen test. It was the end scene, the restaurant scene where I kind of blow my stack, and then that's the last time you ever see me. And I stood up and I waved my hands, and it went really well. It was one of those things where it just took, and when we cut, I looked around and there was blood everywhere. Of course, everyone comes running over to me because I broke glasses and they just went flying, and dishes went flying. Everyone came over and they were looking and looking and they couldn't find any cuts [on me] and couldn't figure out where the blood was coming from. Then we looked over and it was coming from Al Pacino! I had cut Al Pacino in my screen test! Of course, I was mortified, but I actually think that's what endeared me to him.
What is the wildest thing you ever did to get a job?
I did a silly thing. I was auditioning for “Ladyhawke,” and I had to put myself on tape because they were in Italy. I was a little bit irritated that I had to do that. So I thought, Well, I’m just gonna have a little fun with this. I went to the pet store and I bought a bird, and I did this video test where I start out, and I’m talking about how I’ve been working on something and I’ve been working really hard and I haven’t really perfected it but I’m a Method actress—and so just hold on. And then I fade out and then you fade back in and then there’s the bird. And it’s that I actually turned myself into a bird. Richard Donner thought that was pretty clever. So I got that. But then I had to go back to the pet store and ask them if they would take back the bird.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Well, it wouldn’t work, but I would say to just try to enjoy it more and not be so hard on myself.
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