Michelle Pfeiffer has revealed that her audition for the lead role in the 1982 film "Grease 2" left her feeling deeply embarrassed. The actress, who ultimately secured the part of Stephanie Zinone, the leader of the Pink Ladies, described the audition process as a "cattle call" where performers could hear each other.
Pfeiffer, now 66, told Entertainment Weekly that she had "zero expectations of landing this part" and was primarily sent to the audition by her agents for the experience. She admitted to being neither a strong singer nor a dancer, despite taking voice classes to improve her stage presence. During the audition, she found herself increasingly toward the back of the line for the choreography portion, eventually stumbling through it because she couldn't recall the steps.
"I left with my tail between my legs, feeling so humiliated," Pfeiffer recounted. However, an assistant to director Pat Birch approached her afterward, informing her that the director wanted her to return the following day.
Despite her initial lack of confidence, Pfeiffer landed the role. "Grease 2" reversed the premise of the original film, with Pfeiffer's character, a tough motorcycle rider, falling for a mild-mannered student. While her performance of the song "Cool Rider" remains a memorable part of the film for many fans, Pfeiffer went on to achieve greater critical and commercial success in Hollywood.
Her career highlights include starring opposite Al Pacino in "Scarface" and earning three consecutive Academy Award nominations for her roles in "Married to the Mob," "Dangerous Liaisons," and "The Fabulous Baker Boys." More recently, Pfeiffer has appeared in "Margo's Got Money Troubles" and Taylor Sheridan's "The Madison."
In discussions about "The Madison," Pfeiffer mentioned her collaboration with Kurt Russell, noting that they had previously shared brief scenes in "Tequila Sunrise." She also described a process of developing her character, Stacy, with Sheridan, seeking input from Helen Mirren about her positive experiences working with Sheridan on "1923."