In 2002, Pfeiffer starred in White Oleander, a drama based on the novel by Janet Fitch, where she played Ingrid Magnussen, a manipulative and abusive mother who is imprisoned for murder and tries to control her daughter’s life from behind bars. She received positive reviews for her performance, as well as a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. She also lent her voice to Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, an animated adventure film, where she played Eris, the goddess of chaos.
In 2003, Pfeiffer took a break from acting to focus on her family and personal life. She later explained that she felt burnt out and uninspired by the roles she was offered, and that she wanted to spend more time with her husband and children. She also admitted that she struggled with aging in Hollywood and the pressure to maintain her appearance. She said, “I think I was pretty careful about where I shot, how I shot, not doing close-ups. I think I became more insecure and self-conscious. I think that’s a natural thing, but I do think it’s a choice.”
Pfeiffer returned to the screen in 2007, after a four-year hiatus, with three films. She starred in Hairspray, a musical comedy based on the Broadway show, where she played Velma Von Tussle, a racist and ambitious television producer. She received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role. She also starred in Stardust, a fantasy adventure based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, where she played Lamia, a witch who seeks to capture a fallen star, played by Claire Danes. She received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role. She also starred in I Could Never Be Your Woman, a romantic comedy with Paul Rudd, where she played a divorced mother who falls in love with a younger man. The film was released straight to DVD due to distribution problems.
2010s: Comeback and Critical Acclaim
Pfeiffer continued to act sporadically in the 2010s, appearing in a few films and television projects. She starred in Chéri, a period drama based on the novel by Colette, where she reunited with director Stephen Frears and played Léa de Lonval, an aging courtesan who has a relationship with a younger man, played by Rupert Friend. She received positive reviews for her performance, as well as a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actress in a Drama. She also starred in Personal Effects, a drama with Ashton Kutcher, where she played a widow who falls in love with a young man who lost his sister. The film was released straight to DVD.
