Michelle Pfeiffer has revealed that her audition for the 1982 film Grease 2 left her feeling deeply embarrassed, despite it leading to her breakthrough role. In a resurfaced interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 68-year-old actress recalled the experience as a humiliating ordeal that almost made her give up hope.
Pfeiffer's Audition Ordeal
Pfeiffer, who had only landed a dozen bit parts before Grease 2, said her agent encouraged her to audition simply to gain experience. She described the process as a massive cattle call with actors, dancers, and singers everywhere. The thin walls meant everyone could hear each other's performances, adding to the pressure.
“I was not a singer,” Pfeiffer admitted. She had been taking voice classes at her acting coach's recommendation, but still felt unprepared. “I certainly was not a dancer,” she added.
The Dancing Phase
The final part of the audition required Pfeiffer to dance across the stage in groups. “It literally was like you see in the movies where one line would come and they would dance across the stage and then the next line would come and they would dance across the stage,” she explained. Pfeiffer kept moving to the back, ending up in the last line, and stumbled through the choreography because she couldn't remember the steps.
“I left with my tail between my legs, feeling so humiliated,” Pfeiffer said. She thought she had bombed the audition entirely.
A Surprising Callback
As she left the Paramount lot, an assistant to director Pat Birch ran after her. “I said something about being really embarrassed and she said, ‘Well, you shouldn't be because she wants you to come back tomorrow,’” Pfeiffer recalled. This callback led to her landing the role of Stephanie Zinone, head of the Pink Ladies, alongside a cast that included Maxwell Caulfield, Pamela Adlon, Lorna Luft, Adrian Zmed, Christopher McDonald, and Didi Conn.
Career After Grease 2
Despite Grease 2 being a box office flop and largely panned by critics, it launched Pfeiffer's career. She quickly secured major roles in films such as Scarface, The Witches of Eastwick, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Fabulous Baker Boys. The latter two earned her Oscar nominations. Earlier this year, the sequel was honored at the TCM Film Festival with a special screening and cast reunion, highlighting its enduring cult following.
