Michelle Pfeiffer, a Hollywood stalwart known for her captivating performances in some of the industry’s most iconic films, is taking on a role that feels remarkably close to home in her latest project, The Madison. This neo-western family drama, helmed by the acclaimed creator of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan, sees Pfeiffer star alongside Kurt Russell, who portrays her husband, Preston. The series centres on the Clyburn family as they navigate life in the stunning Madison River valley of southwest Montana, grappling with the aftermath of a profound family tragedy.
Pfeiffer embodies Stacy, the family’s matriarch, with a performance that is nothing short of sensational. Her portrayal is both bold and deeply nuanced, imbuing Stacy with a wisdom reminiscent of Ellen in The Age of Innocence, while also channeling the fierce, unforgettable energy of Selina Kyle from Batman Returns. This powerful intensity, it seems, even had a striking effect on one of her co-stars.
Patrick J. Adams, who plays Stacy’s son-in-law, Russell, confessed to being “sort of terrifying” when he first encountered Pfeiffer on set. He admitted with a laugh, “I’m still scared of Michelle.” Adams elaborated on his admiration for Pfeiffer, stating, “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.” He revealed the daily challenge of working alongside such a legendary figure: “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.”
In an attempt to manage his nerves, Adams even resorted to watching Pfeiffer’s previous films, a tactic he later described as a “terrible mistake,” as it only amplified his awareness of her legendary status. Pfeiffer, however, remained blissfully unaware of the profound effect she was having on her co-star. When asked if she knew about Adams’s starstruck feelings, she responded with genuine affection, “Oh, you know, no, I didn’t. Oh, Patrick. I love Patrick so much, and he’s so talented, so good.”
Beyond his initial nerves, Adams holds immense admiration for Pfeiffer, noting a distinctly maternal quality she brings to the set. “She makes sure everybody’s taken care of,” he shared when asked about her contributions beyond her acting prowess. “She makes sure that everybody’s happy, that everybody feels heard and seen, and that we all have a stake in this [show].”
Adams wasn’t the only member of the cast to heap praise upon Pfeiffer. Beau Garrett, who plays Abigail, Stacy’s elder daughter, also acknowledged Pfeiffer’s commanding presence, calling her “a little scary” while admitting she “adores” her.
Garrett explained the transformative impact of working with Pfeiffer: “She makes you be a better actor and a better person. 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.”
Pfeiffer herself highlighted that the themes of family and trauma were significant motivators for her involvement in The Madison. “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 reflected. She elaborated on how shared experiences, both personal and national, can profoundly alter perspectives, bringing family to the forefront. “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, you know?”
Pfeiffer continued, “When I think back, I’m like, ‘We were in our houses for a year, and we didn’t leave’. That was crazy, but all of those experiences as a nation and a world really shift our perspective, to where family is at the top of mind with everyone.”
Kurt Russell offered his perspective on what makes The Madison particularly compelling, focusing on its exploration of femininity through a more rugged, authentic lens. He described it as “sort of Taylor Sheridan’s female gaze.” Russell added, “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 also noted that The Madison distinguishes itself from Sheridan’s previous works. “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,” she explained.
Matthew Fox, who portrays Kurt Russell’s brother Paul, was drawn to the project by Sheridan’s compelling scripts. However, the opportunity to collaborate with Russell was a significant draw. “I had some conversations with Taylor, and he was telling me about the project, about what he wanted it to be, and was talking to me specifically about the character,” Fox recalled. “We had a couple of good conversations, and then he mentioned that he was talking to Kurt about playing the older brother, and that was really enticing to me, because I had worked with Kurt in 2014, but we had an absolute blast, and we felt like we just had a lot in common as people. 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.”
With such a talented ensemble and a compelling narrative driven by a celebrated creator, The Madison appears poised to be another standout production from Taylor Sheridan. However, judging by the effusive praise from the cast, it’s Michelle Pfeiffer’s remarkable presence that is likely to be the primary draw for audiences.
The Madison premieres globally on Saturday, March 14th, with the first three episodes available exclusively on Paramount+.
