Michelle Pfeiffer was convinced she had completely blown her Grease 2 audition and never expected to land the starring role that would launch her Hollywood career.
The three-time Oscar nominee has recalled leaving the audition “humiliated” after struggling through the musical’s demanding dance routine, only to be stunned when she was called back moments later.
Zero Expectations
Looking back during Entertainment Weekly‘s 2023 oral history celebrating the cult favorite, Michelle, 68, admitted she had almost no confidence walking into the audition for Stephanie Zinone, the leader of the Pink Ladies.
She said, “I had zero expectations of landing this part. My agent sent me on it, honestly, I think, just for the experience.”
The actress described the audition as an intimidating experience. Hopeful performers packed into the studio waiting for their chance to impress.
Michelle recalled, “It was such a cattle call. There were actors and dancers and singers everywhere hanging out, coming in and out auditioning, and there were very thin walls. All the other actors waiting to go in could hear your reading, could hear your singing.”
Singing and Dancing
For Michelle, the pressure was even greater because she did not see herself as the complete package a musical demanded.
The entertainer said, “I was not a singer. I was taking voice classes to really improve my stage voice at the recommendation of my acting coach. And I certainly was not a dancer.”
If the singing was not daunting enough, the final stage of the audition proved even more nerve-racking.
Michelle remembered, “The last phase of the audition was the dancing part. 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.”
Trying to avoid being noticed, the star quietly worked her way to the back of the group.
Michelle recounted, “I kept moving further to the back, so I ended up in the very last line and stumbled my way through because I couldn’t remember the choreography.”
Certain she had ruined her chances, the actress walked away convinced her Hollywood dream had slipped through her fingers.
Michelle said, “I left with my tail between my legs, feeling so humiliated.”
Landing the Role
Then everything changed. As she made her way across the Paramount Pictures lot, someone came running after her.
Michelle recalled, “And somebody’s assistant, I think it was [director] Pat Birch’s assistant, ran after me across the Paramount studio lot. I said something about being really embarrassed and she said, ‘Well, you shouldn’t be because she wants you to come back tomorrow.'”
The callback ultimately led to Michelle landing the role of Stephanie Zinone opposite Maxwell Caulfield (Michael Carringotn). The cast also featured Lorna Luft (Paulette Rebchuck), Pamela Adlon (Dolores Rebchuck), Christopher McDonald (Goose McKenzie), and Didi Conn (Frenchy Facciano).
Although Grease 2, released in 1982, failed to match the enormous success of the original 1978 Grease, the sequel has developed a devoted following over the decades. Fans continue to celebrate its songs, characters, and infectious energy more than 40 years later.