With 'Hairspray' and 'Stardust' marking her return, we celebrate the career and comeback of Michelle Pfeiffer

By Kim Morgan
Special to MSN Movies

Watch: We interview Pfeiffer for "Hairspray"

Watch: We interview Pfeiffer for "Stardust"

View: Pfeiffer photo gallery

Oh, Michelle Pfeiffer: She of the impossibly perfect cheekbones. That fabulous override upper lip. Those gorgeously almond shaped blue eyes. That cool, yet vulnerable, yet smart, yet curious, yet regal blonde persona. Dear Lord -- Where did this woman come from? And better still, where has she been?

Well, to be less dramatic about it, she hailed from the incredibly un-exotic burg of Orange County, California, where her rise from grocery store checker to movie queen is truly an All-American success story. And she deserved it. Since her ingénue breakthrough in "Scarface" to her current status as one of film's most respected actresses, Pfeiffer has proven herself as more than just that pretty face you can't help but fall in love with (see Daniel Day-Lewis in "Age of Innocence").

And, thankfully, she's been busy again. Though we haven't seen her on-screen since 2002's "White Oleander," Pfeiffer's back -- this time in Amy Heckerling's romantic comedy "I Could Never Be Your Woman," playing the older (Michelle? old?) paramour to a besotted Paul Rudd. And that's not all. She's also found work in the fantasy film "Stardust" (opposite Claire Danes) and as the nasty Velma Von Tussle in the big-screen musical version of John Waters' Broadway hit "Hairspray."

But Pfeiffer has always revealed a mean range, too, and that's something we're celebrating with her top 10 greatest performances. Read, re-watch and remember why Michelle really is our "Belle."

10. "The Witches of Eastwick" (1987)
Though this film version wasn't as successful as John Updike's richer novel, there was a great deal of fun in watching Cher, Susan Sarandon and Pfeiffer seduced by the "horny little devil," Jack Nicholson. In an early attempt to de-glam her looks, Pfeiffer played small time journalist, single mother Sukie Ridgemont, in a down-to-earth performance. And though it's pretty hard to make Pfeiffer look or seem at all regular (even when her character sports cold sores in a scene), she did convey a genuine likeability and sadness. Transcending the film's unnecessary use of special effects, and going toe-to-toe with a terrifically hammy Nicholson, Pfeiffer imbued her character with complication -- even mystery.

9. "The Deep End of the Ocean" (1999)
The movie is complete and utter Oprah-endorsed melodrama (based on Jacquelyn Mitchard), yet Pfeiffer is so adept at wriggling herself out of pabulum, there should be a separate award for such feats. The wrenching story concerns the kidnapping of Pfeiffer's child and the aftermath, and the very weird reunion 10 years later. Again, it's all very dour and a borderline Lifetime sapfest, but thanks to Pfeiffer's conviction to this character, we feel genuine emotion. Pfeiffer conveys a range of feeling, from her depression and guilt over losing her child, to her problems in taking care of her other children; all are crafted beautifully. It's one thing when an actor does fine work in an excellent movie; it's often better when they elevate a mediocre film by their performance alone.

8. "What Lies Beneath" (2000)
In Robert Zemeckis' rather standard (yet entertaining) chiller, Pfeiffer suffers a supernatural case of empty-nest syndrome. As a "normal" housewife missing her college bound daughter, she's depressed not only because she's a sweet mother but because she's constantly being reminded about how little is going on in her life. And then, she starts hearing things. And seeing things. Then, her marriage (to Harrison Ford) gets weirder. Is she paranoid? Does she need a Zoloft/Xanax cocktail? Well, true to the mainstream nature of the movie, she's not nuts; but Pfeiffer gives her character such believable instability that she, in part, keeps the film surprising. And you'll never forget her bathtub freak out. Who knew Pfeiffer was a class-A scream queen?

7. "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988)
Pfeiffer has always boasted an almost preternatural ability with stillness. Like many of the great face actors (Steve McQueen being one of them), her eyes, her subtle expressions and the way she holds her mouth can convey volumes without saying one word. Stephen Frears' "Dangerous Liaisons" allowed Pfeiffer the chance to showcase this talent to phenomenal heights. As the victim of bored, game playing French Rococco-era aristocrats (Glenn Close and John Malkovich) her honorable, married Madame de Tourvel is seduced with curiosity, guilt and finally, complete heart break. It's a role that could have been swallowed up by the preening, lip smacking Close and Malkovich but manages to stand out for its singular subtlety. In the end, she steals the movie.

6. "Married to the Mob" (1988)
Michelle Pfeiffer as an Edie Falco-esque Italian-American? Who would ever believe it? In Jonathan Demme's "Married to the Mob," we did. A quirky, clever movie that straddled Demme's lovable eccentricities with mainstream romantic comedy, Pfeiffer was all poofy hair and goofy dame in playing Angie de Marco, mafia widow to Alec Baldwin's "Cucumber" Frank de Marco. But as usual for Michelle, she added that extra dose of believability and vulnerability to what could have been a cartoon character. And her scenes with a dorky yet oddly romantic Matthew Modine were wonderfully sweet. This may have been made in the late '80s but the movie and Michelle were classic 1930s screwball all the way.

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