Pfeiffer’s Personal Touch in Taylor Sheridan’s Latest: “The Madison”
Hollywood icon Michelle Pfeiffer, a veteran of countless acclaimed films and collaborations with the industry’s elite, is stepping into what might be her most intimate role yet with “The Madison.” This new neo-western family drama, helmed by the prolific Taylor Sheridan of “Yellowstone” fame, sees Pfeiffer star alongside Kurt Russell, who portrays her husband Preston. The series centres on the Clyburn family as they seek a fresh start in the picturesque Madison River valley of southwest Montana, following a devastating family tragedy.
While details remain scarce to preserve the narrative’s unfolding surprises, Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Stacy, the family’s matriarch, is nothing short of sensational. Her performance is both bold and deeply resonant, drawing parallels to the quiet wisdom of Ellen in “The Age of Innocence” and, in a more visceral comparison, the formidable ferocity of Selina Kyle from “Batman Returns.”
This very intensity, it seems, left a significant impression on one of her co-stars. Patrick J. Adams, who plays Stacy’s son-in-law, Russell, admitted to being somewhat intimidated by the prospect of working with Pfeiffer. “It was sort of terrifying,” Adams confessed with a laugh. “I’m still scared of Michelle. 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. 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.”
Adams even resorted to watching Pfeiffer’s past films in an attempt to humanise her, a strategy he later deemed a “terrible mistake” as it only amplified his awareness of her legendary status. Pfeiffer, however, was entirely unaware of the effect she was having on her co-star. “Oh, you know, no, I didn’t,” she responded when asked about Adams’s nerves. “Oh, Patrick. I love Patrick so much, and he’s so talented, so good.”
Despite his initial apprehension, Adams harbours immense admiration for Pfeiffer, highlighting a distinctly maternal quality she brings to the set. “She makes sure everybody’s taken care of,” he explained 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 is not the only cast member to extol Pfeiffer’s virtues. Beau Garrett, who embodies Abigail, Stacy’s elder daughter, also described Pfeiffer as “a little scary” but quickly followed up with an emphatic declaration of her adoration.
“She makes you be a better actor and a better person,” Garrett elaborated. “There’s not one scene with her where 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.”
This positive feedback is undoubtedly welcome news for Pfeiffer, who cited the themes of family and trauma as pivotal in her decision to join the project. “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 remarked. She further reflected on how recent global events, from personal tragedies to broader societal disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental concerns such as wildfires, have profoundly shifted perspectives, elevating the importance of family to the forefront for many. “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 insights into “The Madison,” finding particular interest in its exploration of femininity through a more rugged, unconventional lens, dubbing it “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 also perceives “The Madison” as a departure from Sheridan’s previous bodies of 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,” she shared.
Matthew Fox, who plays Paul, Kurt Russell’s brother (a testament to the character-rich narratives typical of a Taylor Sheridan production), revealed that while Sheridan’s scripts were initially appealing, it was the opportunity to reunite with Russell that truly sealed the deal. “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 explained. “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.”
Considering the collective admiration and the compelling creative forces behind it, “The Madison” appears poised to be another significant offering from Taylor Sheridan. However, if the cast’s fervent praise is any indication, it is Michelle Pfeiffer’s magnetic presence and deeply personal performance that will likely draw audiences in and keep them captivated.
“The Madison” is set to premiere globally on Saturday, March 14th, with the first three episodes available exclusively on Paramount Plus.
