Michelle Pfeiffer has spoken candidly about the grounding effect becoming a mother has had on her life.
In an interview with the British Issue OK! Magazineshe claimed that motherhood has given her a sense of stability.
“Since becoming a mother, I’ve found balance in my life. As an actor, when you’re forced to be introspective all the time, it’s a relief to have something that can pull you out of your narcissism,” she began.
Pfeiffer also noted, “It gives your life another level of meaning.”
While most actors often operate from an external locus of control, due to the structural realities of their profession, Michelle intentionally cultivates an internal locus to maintain mental stability.
She said, “It’s just the nature of the beast, you try to connect with your character, so that lends itself to retrospective more than most.”
Pfeiffer further noted that at her stage in life, she no longer has to look far for inspiration when it comes to portraying loss, the loss of friends, family and colleagues.
She said: “Sometimes it can go to a place where it’s just not healthy. When you get to my age, enough people around you – friends, family, colleagues – have passed away, so unfortunately you don’t have to look too far for inspiration for that.
“Grief manifests itself differently for everyone. Some people are very stoic. For some people it’s just all out there. When you combine grief and the shock of an unexpected tragedy, PTSD almost comes into play as well.”
“And sometimes Abby, my oldest daughter, keeps things together more because she sees what a mess I am,” she concluded.
