Actress Recalls Bloody Audition That Landed Her Iconic 'Scarface' Role

According to a recent report, acclaimed actress Michelle Pfeiffer has shared the behind-the-scenes story of her audition process for the 1983 crime classic 'Scarface'. In a podcast interview, Pfeiffer explained that while director Brian De Palma was keen on casting her as Elvira, the troubled wife of Tony Montana (played by Al Pacino), the lead actor was not initially convinced.

"Al will admit this," Pfeiffer said, "[but] he didn't really want me for the part." The actress recounted how she struggled with the audition over the course of two months, becoming increasingly nervous and performing poorly. By the end, she was convinced she had lost the role. However, De Palma persisted and brought Pfeiffer in for a screen test.

Surprisingly, the screen test ended up being Pfeiffer's "best work of the film." But it was a bloody accident during the audition that ultimately sealed the deal. "I swipe the table of the dishes and glasses break, the dishes break, cut. There's blood everywhere," Pfeiffer recalled. "I thought, 'Well, there goes that part.' [But] actually I think that was the day [Pacino] was like, 'Yeah, yeah. I think, yeah, she's not bad.'"

The 1983 crime classic 'Scarface' went on to become a cult classic, with Pfeiffer's portrayal of the drug-addicted Elvira earning widespread acclaim. Her perseverance and the unexpected turn of events during the audition process have now become a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about one of the most iconic films of the era.