For many viewers, she remains the woman in the stitched black catsuit from “Batman Returns.” Others remember “Scarface,” “Dangerous Minds” or her singing across a piano in “The Fabulous Baker Boys.”
Those memories can make the gaps between her films seem especially long. Pfeiffer has explained that she became increasingly selective while raising her children. Her career developed through breaks, returns and projects that fitted different stages of her life.
By September 2026, she was appearing in two major television series, earning fresh awards attention and publicly correcting retirement rumors.
The roles that made Michelle Pfeiffer unforgettable
“Scarface” helped establish Pfeiffer as a star in 1983. Over the following decade, she moved between crime stories, comedies, romantic dramas and superhero films.
Her performances in “Dangerous Liaisons,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys” and “Love Field” earned three Oscar nominations. Then her Catwoman in Tim Burton’s 1992 “Batman Returns” gave audiences another lasting image.
That range matters when looking at what happened afterward. Pfeiffer had built a career across several kinds of movies. There was no single television cancellation or franchise ending that explains her later absences.
Instead, her work became less frequent as her life outside filming took up more space.
Why she took time away from acting
By the early 2000s, Pfeiffer was raising two children with her husband, television writer and producer David E. Kelley.
A 2007 interview published by The Spokesman-Review described the years after “White Oleander,” released in 2002. She continued reading scripts and voiced a character in 2003’s “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas,” but stayed away from live-action film roles for several years.
Pfeiffer said a move and other interests had filled her time. The break grew longer almost without her noticing.
She gave a more detailed explanation to director Darren Aronofsky in Interview magazine in 2017. Filming locations, time away and her children’s schedules all shaped which jobs she accepted.
“And I got so picky that I was unhirable,” she said.
That remark described how narrowly she had limited her availability. It should not be read as evidence that the industry had rejected her.
In the same interview, Pfeiffer said she still loved acting. With her children grown and out of the house, she felt ready to take on more work.
Her return happened in several stages
Pfeiffer had already returned to cinemas in 2007 with two memorable villains: Velma von Tussle in “Hairspray” and the witch Lamia in “Stardust.”
She told the interviewer whose report appeared in The Spokesman-Review that returning to a soundstage felt right. Those playful roles helped her reconnect with the pleasure of performing.
More films followed, including “Dark Shadows” in 2012. Another busy stretch arrived in 2017 with “The Wizard of Lies,” “mother!” and “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Her next superhero role introduced her to Marvel audiences. She played Janet van Dyne in 2018’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” returning in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” in 2023.
Alongside those large productions, she continued taking smaller, character-focused parts. “French Exit” brought her a Golden Globe nomination in 2021.
The pattern helps explain why different viewers have different impressions of her career. Someone following Marvel might have seen her regularly, while someone remembering her earlier romantic dramas might have wondered where she went.
She also built a fragrance business
Acting was only part of Pfeiffer’s later working life.
In April 2019, she launched Henry Rose, a fragrance company that began with five scents. Its central selling point was disclosure of its fragrance ingredients.
On the company’s website, Pfeiffer connects the idea to becoming a mother and paying closer attention to product labels. She wanted more information about what went into the perfumes she used.
Henry Rose gave her a business project alongside her screen career. The brand’s website continues to identify her as its founder.
That development adds another piece to the years between familiar movie roles: she was also creating something outside entertainment.
What is Michelle Pfeiffer doing now?
As of Sept. 8, 2026, Pfeiffer is active on television and has directly rejected suggestions that she is retiring.
She stars alongside Kurt Russell in Taylor Sheridan’s “The Madison,” which premiered on Paramount+ on March 14. The family drama follows grief and changing relationships against a Montana backdrop.
She also appears in Apple TV’s “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” which premiered April 15. Pfeiffer plays the mother of Elle Fanning’s character and serves as an executive producer. Apple renewed the series for a second season in May.
Her performance earned a 2026 Emmy nomination for supporting actress in a comedy series. That award remains pending ahead of the Sept. 14 ceremony.
The retirement question resurfaced after she spoke about enjoying ensemble casts. During an August appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she clarified her position.
“Of course I want to star in another movie!” she said, according to TheWrap’s report.
For anyone who remembers Pfeiffer mainly as Catwoman, the update is straightforward. She has spent years adjusting how acting fits into her life, and she is still finding characters she wants to play.
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Questions readers ask about Michelle Pfeiffer
No. She rejected retirement rumors in August 2026 while discussing her recent work and enthusiasm for ensemble casts.
She has said that family schedules, filming locations and time away influenced her choices. Some breaks lasted longer than she expected.
Her 2026 series include “The Madison” on Paramount+ and “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” on Apple TV. Availability varies by country.