Michelle Pfeiffer is one of the most talented actors in the industry, who had a long career in various roles. The actress has given more than four decades to Hollywood and has worked in some of the biggest box office hits. Her hit films include Scarface, Batman Returns, Dangerous Minds, Ladyhawke, Murder on the Orient Express, and others. She plays a prominent role in the Ant-man series of Marvel Studios.
Despite playing numerous iconic roles in her career, there was one role she could not bring herself to do. Stardust actress did not wish to work in Anthony Hopkins’ movie for a specific reason.
Michelle Pfeiffer rejected role in The Silence of the Lambs
In the early 90’s, Michelle Pfeiffer was at the peak of her career’s success. At the time, she was offered numerous roles, but reportedly the actress turned down a long list of roles in the film. Some of the biggest films include Thelma & Louise, Pretty Woman, Basic Instinct, etc. One role she regrets most for turning down was in Anthony Hopkins’ The Silence of the Lambs.
Jonathan Demme always envisioned Pfeiffer for the role of rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling. However, the actress got cold feet. She shared The New Yorker in 2021,
“I was trepidatious. There was such evil in that film. It was that evil won in the end, that at the end of that film, evil ruled out. I was uncomfortable with that ending. I didn’t want to put that out into the world.”
The role went to Jodie Foster, who won an Oscar for the role.
The actress regretted not working with the director as she never got other chances to work with him again. I Am Sam actress shared that she refused to do the film because she felt the ending was very evil.
Pfeiffer and director Jonathan Demme had worked together in a prior film, Married to the Mob.
Michelle Pfeiffer regrets not working with Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the Lambs was released in 1991 and became a critical and commercial juggernaut. The film was a box office success and grossed over $270 million worldwide. It won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. The character of Clarice became Foster’s one of the most iconic roles. She won an Academy Award, the BAFTA, and the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
However, Pfeiffer’s only regret was that she could not work with the director again. She shared in an interview with The New Yorker after the director passed away in 2017.
“It’s so sad to me that he’s no longer with us. First of all, he is the nicest person, he is funny, and not only is he really funny but he’s the easiest person to make laugh, so we just laugh all the time. [‘Married to the Mob’] was a very demanding shoot, but for whatever reason I just sort of stepped into her. I don’t know why. I didn’t have to work really that hard at it, I didn’t even have to work that hard at the accent.”
Married to the Mob was released in 1988 and grossed $21 million worldwide.
Also read- Marvel Star “Petrified” Jodie Foster in $272 Million Psychological Horror Movie That Won 5 Oscars
Source- Independent
