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Michelle Pfeiffer was one of the biggest movie stars to emerge in the 1980s. Renowned for her looks, her versatility as an actress has been underlined by the wide range of roles she has played so far in her career.
10. Dangerous Minds (1995)
LouAnne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a teacher in California, where she uses a variety of inventive ways to engage with her cynical students. Determined to win them over she even dresses in an unconventional way and teaches her students karate.
9. Ladyhawke (1985)
In this unusual fantasy film, Etienne Navarre (Rutger Hauer) is accompanied by a beautiful hawk and a young companion, Philippe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) as they confront a variety of dangers. Navarre is in love with Isabeau d’Anjou (Michelle Pfeiffer) and both she and Navarre have the ability to change from human to animal form and back again – Isabeau becoming a hawk, and Navarre becoming a wolf.
8. The Age of Innocence (1993)
Set in the high society of America in the second half of the 19th Century, Michelle Pfeiffer plays Countess Ellen Olenska, who returns to New York after a disastrous marriage with a Polish count. Daniel Day Lewis plays the tormented Newland Archer, who is in love with the Countess, but who marries her cousin May (Winona Ryder).
7. Married to the Mob (1988)
Michelle starred in this film as Angela de Marco, a Brooklyn gangster’s widow. Despite her husband’s death Angela retains connections with the mob, which provokes the FBI to investigate her. Dean Stockwell also makes a notable appearance as a mob boss with romantic designs on Angela.
6. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
Based on a mid-80s novel by John Updike, The Witches of Eastwick revolves around three witches – Sukie (Michelle Pfeiffer), Jane (Susan Sarandon) and Alexandra (Cher). The trio fall under the spell of a dark, manipulative character called Daryl (Jack Nicholson), and they realise that they have magical powers. After the three witches become disturbed by the tragic consequences of their powers, they also realise that the evil Daryl has to be dealt with.
5. Stardust (2007)
Lamia, Dark Queen of the Witches is the role played by Michelle Pfeiffer in this romantic fantasy adventure movie. Evil to the core, the murderous Lamia also has a neat trick when it comes to trying to restore her youth – she eats what is left of the heart of a star.
4. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
Set in France less than a decade before the French Revolution, Madame Marie de Tourvel is played by Michelle Pfeiffer. She’s a virtuous lady, but she becomes increasingly tormented by the events happening around her.
3. Batman Returns (1992)
Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), aka Selina Kyle, turns to crime after a nervous breakdown caused by evil former boss Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). While after Catwoman’s alliance with The Penguin (Danny DeVito) turns sour, both Catwoman and Batman (Michael Keaton) are targeted by Shreck.
2. Scarface (1983)
A remake of a 1982 film of the same name, the ’80s version saw Michelle Pfeiffer’s first big role in a major film. Michelle plays Elvira Hancock, who is the wife of the film’s leading figure Tony Montana (Al Pacino), a violent drug baron.
1. The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Starring brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer (Susie Diamond) plays a singer who has a positive impact on the flagging careers of Seattle pianists Jack Baker (Jeff Bridges) and Frank Baker (Beau Bridges). This film was arguably the movie that cemented Michelle as one of the great movie stars of the late 20th Century.
