Michelle Pfeiffer is entering a new chapter in her screen career, and it points firmly toward television. After standout turns this year in Margo’s Got Money Troubles and The Madison, the actor said she has changed the way she thinks about future roles. Her latest comments came during THR x Apple TV’s Leading the Narrative: The Women of Apple TV gathering on Sunday, where she appeared with fellow Emmy nominees Elle Fanning, Dale Dickey, Karolina Wydra, Rhea Seehorn and Jessica Williams. The message was clear: ensemble work now holds far more appeal than carrying a film alone.
Michelle Pfeiffer Says Ensemble Work Feels Better
Pfeiffer put it bluntly when discussing what she wants next. “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,” she said according to Hollywood Reporter. It is a striking shift for a performer whose film résumé includes Dangerous Liaisons, Batman Returns, Scarface, Hairspray and The Fabulous Baker Boys. But in television, she has recently found a different rhythm, one built around shared momentum, layered casts and characters who can breathe over multiple episodes.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles Adds a Messy Family Dynamic
In Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Elle Fanning plays a college dropout who turns to OnlyFans to support herself and her baby. Pfeiffer plays her mother, Shyanne, a former Hooters waitress with loud taste, bold energy and a look that instantly changes a room. The series also features Nick Offerman, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano and Nicole Kidman, while David E. Kelley serves as showrunner. Pfeiffer is not just starring in the series but also executive producing it, giving her a deeper role in shaping a project built around flawed people and uneasy family ties.
Michelle Pfeiffer Praises Women Leading TV
The actor also spoke about what draws her to television right now: the depth of its female characters. She said she has been deeply impressed by the work women are doing on the small screen and by the complexity built into those roles. According to Hollywood Reporter, both of Pfeiffer’s recent TV projects have already been renewed, adding momentum to this phase of her career. That success gives extra weight to her comments, especially as streaming and prestige TV continue to offer major actors more room for nuance than many studio films currently provide.
Shyanne Let Pfeiffer Play Against Her Own Nature
Pfeiffer said the role of Shyanne gave her a chance to step far outside her off-camera personality. “I’ve just been so bowled over by the female performances on television and honestly, they’re just really owning TV,” the star said on the panel. She later described herself as “the wallflower,” then explained how much fun it was to channel someone so much louder and less restrained. She added that the crew would react every time Shyanne arrived in costume, turning the character into a source of energy on set and one of the event’s most talked-about TV figures.
