Michelle Pfeiffer is entering one of the busiest and most exciting chapters of her career, balancing two high-profile television projects while reflecting on the choices that turned her into one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses. In a recent interview with Deadline, the Oscar-nominated star discussed her leading role in Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison, her collaboration with husband David E. Kelley on Apple TV+’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and the pivotal moment early in her career that convinced her to pursue acting full-time.

Pfeiffer revealed that The Madison has already completed filming its second season alongside the first, with a third season officially on the way. She teased that viewers will see a very different chapter for Stacy Clyburn, the wealthy Manhattan widow she portrays. After relocating to Montana following the sudden death of her husband Preston, Stacy initially finds comfort in her new surroundings. However, according to Pfeiffer, that honeymoon period won’t last long.

“I think the honeymoon is over,” she explained. “The family—and Stacy herself—will realize that life in Montana is much harder than they imagined. The beauty and romance begin to wear off, and they start questioning whether this new life is truly sustainable.”

Alongside The Madison, Pfeiffer is also starring in Margo’s Got Money Troubles, a television adaptation of Rufi Thorpe’s bestselling novel created by her husband, acclaimed producer and writer David E. Kelley. The actress admitted she had noticed the novel sitting around their home before Kelley suggested she might enjoy a particular role.

“I kept walking past the book,” she recalled with a laugh. “He finally told me there was a character everyone thought I’d be perfect for.”

That character was Shyanne Millet, a tough, outspoken former Hooters waitress raising her daughter while refusing to give up despite life’s challenges. Pfeiffer said she immediately connected with the role.

“I knew women like her growing up in Orange County. She’s a survivor. She’s unapologetic, funny, resilient, and I knew I would have an incredible time playing her.”

Although Margo’s Got Money Troubles was originally conceived as a limited series, it has now been renewed for a second season, marking another major television success for the veteran actress.

Pfeiffer also spoke warmly about working alongside Elle Fanning, who plays the title character in the series. Their friendship stretches back decades to the filming of I Am Sam, when Elle was still a young child accompanying her older sister Dakota on set.

“I’ve known Elle almost her entire life,” Pfeiffer said. “She and Dakota are incredibly grounded, intelligent, funny people. Some of my favorite memories are just eating pizza and drinking champagne with them.”

Looking back on her own journey, Pfeiffer admitted acting was never an obvious career path. Growing up in Orange County, California, she had no family connections to Hollywood and initially questioned whether performing could ever become a stable profession.

Her perspective changed after a high school drama teacher encouraged her to pursue acting professionally. Even then, she nearly turned down her very first television role on Delta House because she worried about financial security.

“I was working as a cashier at a grocery store,” she remembered. “I kept thinking, ‘Can I actually make a living doing this?’ I almost didn’t take the job because I was trying to be practical.”

Accepting that role ultimately changed the course of her life. Within just a few years, she broke through with Grease 2, followed by her unforgettable performance as Elvira Hancock in Scarface, launching one of Hollywood’s most celebrated careers.

Despite decades of success in film, Pfeiffer admitted she had secretly envied the actors who got to deliver dialogue written by David E. Kelley long before she finally joined one of his projects.

“For years I voluntarily stayed away from his shows,” she said. “Meanwhile I was incredibly jealous watching actors like James Spader, Calista Flockhart, Jake Gyllenhaal and so many others getting to speak his dialogue.”

When Taylor Sheridan approached her about The Madison, Pfeiffer confessed she accepted the role with remarkably little information about the story.

“I can’t believe I agreed before even seeing an outline,” she admitted. “He simply told me it was about a family dealing with an unimaginable tragedy who moves to Montana. Later he explained he wanted to tell a story about two people who truly loved each other—not a story about betrayal or infidelity, but about genuine love and profound grief. That really stayed with me.”

Pfeiffer also praised her scenes with Will Arnett, who plays Stacy’s therapist, calling him an outstanding scene partner despite the demanding dialogue-heavy sequences they shared.

Off screen, however, the actress laughed while admitting she’s guilty of one bad habit her own character constantly criticizes: spending too much time on her phone.

“It’s terrible,” she joked. “I took one of those checklists that says if you tick three boxes, you’re addicted to your phone. I checked every single one.”

Now starring in two acclaimed television series while continuing to challenge herself with dramatically different roles, Michelle Pfeiffer says she’s focused less on prestige and more on finding projects she genuinely enjoys—a philosophy that continues to shape one of Hollywood’s most enduring careers.