I Just Learned The Wild Story Behind How Michelle Pfeiffer Landed Scarface (And How Cutting Al Pacino Was Involved)

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Michelle Pfeiffer‘s portrayal of Elvira Hancock in Scarface is truly memorable. The 1983 film, directed by Brian De Palma, is widely regarded as one of the greatest remakes ever made, and Pfeiffer’s performance as the Hairspray star is a key reason why. Surprisingly, she was actually the last choice Al Pacino had in mind for the part, and she was aware of it. I recently discovered the fascinating story of how she landed the role in this classic ’80s movie, and it’s something we need to discuss.

Pfeiffer shared details about her journey to get one of her most well-known roles while chatting with the hosts of the SmartLess podcast on YouTube. The beloved actress recounted the now-famous story of initially being turned down, then getting a chance to screen-test with Pacino – and even accidentally causing him to bleed. However, before that memorable audition, Pfeiffer was reportedly struggling with the audition process:

Al will say that [but] he wasn’t truly looking for me to get the role. I auditioned for it for about two months, and I already suspected he wasn’t interested. I have a funny story about when I actually made him bleed during my screen test.

Director Brian De Palma really wanted Michelle Pfeiffer for the role from the beginning, but Al Pacino wasn’t convinced. After two months of trying out different actresses, the Ant-Man star confessed that while she started strong, she began to struggle with the pressure. She explained further:

I went to the audition and had a really good reading with Brian De Palma and the casting director – it just clicked. Then they asked me to come back and meet Al. But over the next two months, my auditions got progressively worse, because I was really scared. By the end, I was performing poorly. And I don’t fault [Al]. He simply thought “[She’s] bad.” And Brian eventually told me, ‘You know, doll, it’s just not going to work out.’ I replied, ‘I know, man. I’m sorry.’ Brian genuinely wanted me for the role.

Pfeiffer believed that was the final decision, but a month later, she unexpectedly received a call asking her to return for a screen test. Feeling exhausted and convinced it wouldn’t lead anywhere, she went in with a nothing-to-lose attitude. And that’s when things took a rather intense turn. The (many consider her the best) Catwoman actress herself remembered:

So, about a month passed, and I received a call asking me to do a screen test. I went, but honestly, I didn’t really care because I didn’t think I’d get the role… It was actually my strongest performance in the film, specifically the restaurant scene where my character loses their temper at the end. I swept everything off the table – plates and glasses shattered – “Cut!” There was broken glass and what looked like blood everywhere, and everyone rushed over, worried I’d hurt myself. But I hadn’t cut *myself*; I accidentally cut Al. I figured that was the end of my chances. [But] I think that was the day Pacino thought, ‘You know what? She’s actually pretty good.’

It seems a bit of disorder, and quite a bit of shattered glass, was precisely what the character called for. It actually makes sense, considering this is a film where very few people survive. Pfeiffer delivered a perfect performance, and the rest became legendary on the big screen.

Many people consider Scarface a fantastic gangster film, but to be honest, it’s not one I’m eager to watch again. It’s a well-made remake, and some would say it’s even better than the original, but I don’t find it particularly enjoyable. However, Michelle Pfeiffer is definitely a highlight, even in a movie I don’t love. And learning about everything she endured just to get the role – beyond the significant weight loss and numerous rejections – makes her performance even more remarkable.

However, if you’re interested in revisiting Scarface (and seeing Michelle Pfeiffer at her best), it’s currently available to stream with your Netflix subscription. Pfeiffer will also appear in the upcoming holiday comedy Oh. What. Fun., scheduled for release in theaters on December 3rd as part of the 2025 movie lineup.

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2025-10-05 22:12