Michelle Pfeiffer's Co-Star Reveals He Was 'Terrified' Working with Hollywood Icon
Michelle Pfeiffer, the acclaimed actress known for her legendary roles in films like Batman Returns and The Age of Innocence, has unintentionally struck fear into one of her co-stars on her latest project. Patrick J. Adams, who stars alongside Pfeiffer in the new neo-western family drama The Madison, confessed that working with the Hollywood icon was "sort of terrifying."
A Personal Project with Yellowstone Creator
The Madison, created by Yellowstone mastermind Taylor Sheridan, represents one of Pfeiffer's most personal works to date. The series follows the Clyburn family as they relocate to Montana's Madison River valley following a family tragedy. Pfeiffer stars as Stacy, the family matriarch, with Kurt Russell playing her husband Preston.
"I'm still scared of Michelle," Adams laughed during an interview. "She's the most lovely human being in the world, but I get starstruck by people. I love acting. I've spent my whole life doing it. So, I admire these artists who have given some of the most iconic performances in the world."
Unaware of Her Impact
Remarkably, Pfeiffer had no idea about the effect she was having on her co-star. When asked if she was aware of Adams' nervousness, she responded: "Oh, you know, no, I didn't. Oh, Patrick. I love Patrick so much, and he's so talented, so good."
Adams described his daily struggle on set: "Every single day I worked with Michelle Pfeiffer, I had to talk myself off the ledge. She hates it. She just wants to be an actor. She's so down to earth, and she just wants to play the scene."
Attempting to Humanize a Legend
In an effort to overcome his nerves, Adams tried watching Pfeiffer's films to see her as more human. He admitted this was a "terrible mistake" that only reinforced her legendary status. "All it did was make me more aware of what a legend she was," he explained.
Despite his initial intimidation, Adams expressed nothing but admiration for his co-star, noting her maternal qualities on set. "She makes sure everybody's taken care of," he said. "She makes sure that everybody's happy, that everybody feels heard and seen, and that we all have a stake in this [show]."
Universal Praise from the Cast
Adams wasn't alone in his reverence for Pfeiffer. Beau Garrett, who plays Stacy's older daughter Abigail, also acknowledged Pfeiffer's intimidating presence while expressing deep admiration. "She's a little scary," Garrett admitted, "but I adore her. She makes you be a better actor and a better person."
Garrett elaborated: "There's not one scene with her where, if I didn't just take a moment and listen. She carries so much grace and professionalism, kindness and generosity and her craft and who she is as a human. We just immediately bonded."
The Show's Personal Significance
For Pfeiffer, the themes of family and trauma in The Madison resonated deeply. "I think it's about a lot of the things that really matter most to people when you drop all of the kind of BS that we think is important," she explained.
She connected the show's themes to broader societal experiences: "In America, because of what we've been through, it's really shifted people's perspective, because trauma does that. So sometimes it's a death in the family, sometimes it's something traumatic in your country. Sometimes it's like the Palisades fires or Covid."
A Different Kind of Sheridan Project
Kurt Russell highlighted what makes The Madison unique among Taylor Sheridan's creations, describing it as "sort of Taylor Sheridan's female gaze." He noted: "It's something I haven't seen for a very, very long time, especially in television. It's modern, and I think it's really adult in that way, and it's relatable for a lot of people."
Garrett agreed that the show represents a departure from Sheridan's previous work: "I think there's a similarity in the family dynamic, which he really has a talent for navigating, but this is a much quieter show, not in a bad way, in a way that kind of makes you sit and think. It's also quite funny."
Star-Studded Appeal
Matthew Fox, who plays Kurt's brother Paul, revealed that while Sheridan's scripts initially attracted him, the opportunity to work with Russell again proved irresistible. "I had some conversations with Taylor, and he was telling me about the project," Fox recalled. "Then he mentioned that he was talking to Kurt about playing the older brother, and that was really enticing to me."
Fox continued: "I was really excited by the notion of us having the opportunity to play these two guys. Then I read the scripts, and the scripts were really beautiful and really moving."
The Pfeiffer Factor
While The Madison boasts an impressive ensemble cast and Sheridan's signature storytelling, it's clear that Pfeiffer's presence represents a significant draw. Her powerful performance as Stacy combines the wisdom of her Age of Innocence character with the fierceness of her Catwoman portrayal, creating what promises to be another iconic role.
Despite mixed critical reception noted in some reviews, the cast's unanimous admiration suggests Pfeiffer's performance will be the compelling reason audiences return to The Madison. The series premieres globally on March 14th with three episodes available exclusively on Paramount Plus.
