← Back to explore

Michelle Pfeiffer

Acting

Born April 29, 1958 · Santa Ana, California, USA

Also known as Michele Pfeiffer · Michelle Marie Pfeiffer

Biography

Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (/ˈfaɪfər/ FY-fər; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress. One of Hollywood's most bankable stars during the 1980s and 1990s, her performances have earned her numerous accolades including a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. Pfeiffer began her acting career with minor television and film appearances and secured her first lead role in Grease 2 (1982). Her breakthrough role as Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983) propelled her into mainstream success, which continued with performances in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Tequila Sunrise (1988). Pfeiffer received her first of six consecutive Golden Globe Award nominations for Married to the Mob (1988). Her roles in Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) garnered her two consecutive Academy Award nominations, for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively, and she won a Golden Globe Award for the latter. Cemented as one of the highest-paid actresses of the 1990s, Pfeiffer starred in The Russia House (1990) and Frankie and Johnny (1991). In 1992, she played Catwoman in Batman Returns and received her third Academy Award nomination for Love Field, which she followed up with performances in The Age of Innocence (1993) and Wolf (1994). She also produced several of her own features through her company, Via Rosa Productions, including Dangerous Minds (1995). Reducing her workload to prioritise her family, Pfeiffer acted sporadically throughout the 2000s, starring in What Lies Beneath (2000), White Oleander (2002), Hairspray, and Stardust (both 2007). Following another hiatus, Pfeiffer returned to prominence in 2017 with performances in Where Is Kyra?, Mother!, and Murder on the Orient Express, and received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for playing Ruth Madoff in The Wizard of Lies. In 2020, she received her eighth Golden Globe Award nomination for French Exit. Pfeiffer has played Janet van Dyne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2018, beginning with Ant-Man and the Wasp. Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Douglas, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Awards & recognition

  • Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year · 1995
  • Crystal Award · 1993
  • Silver BearBest Actress · 1993
  • BAFTA AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role · 1990
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Actress – Motion Picture Drama · 1990
Show all 9 awards →
  • star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Academy AwardBest Actress · 1993 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Actress · 1990 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Supporting Actress · 1989 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Margo's Got Money Troubles

2026as Shyanne

Avengers: Endgame

2019as Janet Van Dyne

Scarface

1983as Elvira

The Madison

2026as Stacy Clyburn

The Simpsons

1989as Mindy Simmons (voice)

I Am Sam

2001as Rita Harrison Williams

Picket Fences

1992as Client (uncredited)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962as Self

Marvel Studios: Legends

2021as Janet van Dyne (archive footage) (uncredited)

Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson

1987as Natica Jackson

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

2019as Queen Ingrith

Stardust

2007as Lamia

The Prince of Egypt

1998as Tzipporah (voice)

The Graham Norton Show

2007as Self

Dangerous Liaisons

1988as Madame Marie de Tourvel

Mad TV

1995as Self

Mother!

2017as Woman

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

2003as Eris (voice)

White Oleander

2002as Ingrid Magnussen

Dangerous Minds

1995as Louanne Johnson

The Age of Innocence

1993as Ellen Olenska

Ladyhawke

1985as Isabeau d'Anjou

Ant-Man and the Wasp

2018as Janet Van Dyne / Wasp

Batman Returns

1992as Selina Kyle / Catwoman

CHiPs

1977as Jobina

People Like Us

2012as Lillian Harper

Frankie and Johnny

1991as Frankie

Callie & Son

1981as Sue Lynn Bordeaux

Murder on the Orient Express

2017as Caroline Hubbard

Hairspray

2007as Velma Von Tussle

The Wizard of Lies

2017as Ruth Madoff

The Deep End of the Ocean

1999as Beth Cappadora

One Fine Day

1996as Melanie Parker

The Witches of Eastwick

1987as Sukie Ridgemont

Into the Night

1985as Diana

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019as Self - Guest

The Family

2013as Maggie Blake

What Lies Beneath

2000as Claire Spencer

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1999as Titania

Up Close & Personal

1996as Tally Atwater

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

2023as Self - Janet van Dyne

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

2023as Janet Van Dyne

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015as Self - Guest

Dark Shadows

2012as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

Chéri

2009as Lea

Original Sin

2001Producer

The Story of Us

1999as Katie Jordan

Wolf

1994as Laura Alden

Love Field

1992as Lurene Hallett

The Russia House

1990as Katya Orlova