Michelle Pfeiffer on 'People Like Us' and why she's excited for Anne Hathaway's Catwoman

For 20 years Michelle Pfeiffer was a constant presence on the big screen. She was nominated for three Oscars (for "Dangerous Liaisons," "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "Love Field") and starred in big hits including "Batman Returns," "What Lies Beneath" and "Dangerous Minds."

And then, after 2002's "White Oleander," Pfeiffer stepped back from stardom to focus on her family. She lent her voice to an animated "Sinbad" movie, starred in a romantic comedy with Paul Rudd that went direct-to-video ("I Could Never Be Your Woman") and didn't return to theaters until 2007's "Hairspray" and "Stardust." She hasn't dramatically ramped up her output since then, but her recent string of supporting roles in "New Year's Eve," "Dark Shadows" and now "People Like Us" suggests Pfeiffer may finally be ready for a full-fledged and long overdue comeback.

During her promotional tour for "People Like Us" -- in which she co-stars as Chris Pine's recently widowed mother -- I asked Pfeiffer what she looks for in film roles these days and whether or not the dearth of character-driven dramas like "People Like Us" impacts her choices.

And I couldn't resist bringing up Catwoman. The world will soon see how Anne Hathaway's performance in "The Dark Knight Rises" compares to Pfeiffer's iconic take on the role, and it turns out Pfeiffer is just as excited to see the movie as everyone else.

"People Like Us" opens June 29

Geoff Berkshire
Contributor

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Geoff Berkshire lives in Los Angeles and writes about film and television. His work has appeared in Variety, the L.A. Times, and Premiere, among other publications. He is the former national entertainment editor and film critic for Metromix.com.