Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer has pushed back against media reports suggesting she plans to retire from acting, calling the interpretation of her recent comments about television work completely inaccurate.
The 68-year-old performer appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, August 20, where host Jimmy Fallon displayed headlines characterizing her previous statements as retirement hints. One such headline read, "Michelle Pfeiffer hints at Hollywood retirement."
"It's the most ridiculous thing. They're always saying that I'm retiring. I never said [that] … where does it say I'm retiring?" Pfeiffer told Fallon during the interview, according to Us Weekly.
The confusion stems from remarks Pfeiffer made during a panel discussion earlier this month, where she expressed enthusiasm for ensemble television projects over leading film roles. Those comments were taken out of their full context, the actress explained.
"All I said was I really love working with an ensemble cast. I said something about, 'I never wanna star in another movie,' and they took that out of context," she said, according to Us Weekly. "Of course I wanna star in another movie."
Pfeiffer elaborated on why she has found recent ensemble television work particularly rewarding, noting the creative opportunities that come with extended character development across multiple episodes.
"I've done three ensemble pieces in a row … it's wonderful to be able to live with a character for such an extended period of time and you can really just go deeper and find all of the different layers," she continued, according to Us Weekly. "But it's also really wonderful, and most important to me, that I get to work with all of this talent. It's an embarrassment of riches."
The actress has recently appeared in Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ drama The Madison alongside Kurt Russell, Beau Garrett, and Patrick J. Adams. She also stars in the Apple TV comedy Margo's Got Money Troubles with Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, and Nick Offerman.
During the earlier panel discussion, Pfeiffer had said, "I never want to star in another movie, I swear to God. I only want to do ensemble pieces. It's so much more fun, I love it so much," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She also praised the quality of female performances on television, stating, "I've just been so bowled over by the female performances on television, and honestly, they're just really owning TV," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Margo's Got Money Troubles represents a professional collaboration with her husband, veteran television writer and producer David E. Kelley, known for creating Ally McBeal. The series, based on the novel by Rufi Thorpe, was written and created by Kelley.
Fallon reminded Pfeiffer during the Thursday interview that she had previously stated she would never work with her husband. The actress explained that her decision to join the project came after reading the source material.
"I read the book and I just fell in love with the book," she said of collaborating with Kelley on Margo's Got Money Troubles, according to Us Weekly.
She added, "It was effortless. The writing is so good. He doesn't really come to the set much, so it was kind of easy. It wasn't really any different," according to Us Weekly.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
