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Only a creator as prolific as Taylor Sheridan could woo screen legends Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell to the small screen. When Sheridan approached them with The Madison, a gut-wrenching show about a well-to-do New York City family who lose their patriarch in a tragic accident, it was an easy “yes” from both. As Stacy Clyburn, Pfeiffer embodies all the messy stages of grief in a truly searing performance. With a character as emotionally wrought as Stacy, Pfeiffer knew the role would be a challenge. Driven by the fact that “the best female performances are happening on television,” Pfeiffer flew to Texas to meet with Sheridan on his ranch to discuss the part. “We had a couple of tequilas. He laid it out for me, and I liked the concept,” said Pfeiffer.
Though—just to be sure—she had to call Sheridan’s 1923 collaborator Helen Mirren for reassurance. After hearing that his productions were the “best productions [Mirren] has ever worked on,” Pfeiffer was in. Once Pfeffier was confirmed, Kurt Russell came onboard to play Preston Clyburn, the loving Manhattanite family man who longs for Montana. Russell admits that Pfeiffer is the one who “took a leap of faith” and got the production in motion. Once he found out Pfeffier was involved, it was an easy “yes” for him. “Taylor captured our voices,” said Russell.
Over the course of the season, Stacy’s and Preston’s love story becomes sacred. Their connection— that spanned 39 years and created two daughters—is revealed through flashbacks and Stacy’s memories. To create that bond on-screen, Pfeiffer relied heavily on Russell. Previously, the two had worked together almost 38 years ago on Robert Towne’s underrated crime drama Tequila Sunrise and have fostered a friendship ever since. “He was my confidant and my biggest supporter,” said Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer and Russell spoke to Decider during a press junket to discuss the season, weigh in on the technical difficulties of filming a bathtub scene together, and more.
DECIDER: Michelle, Kurt looks so at home in the West, but this series is really your first foray into that genre. What is it about The Madison that appealed to you at this point in your career?
MICHELLE PFEIFFER: I have been wanting to do a television show for a long time. I’ve been open to projects because there’s just so much good work being done. The best female performances are happening on television, and especially in my age range. Taylor has a pretty good track record [laughs]. It’s always about timing. When he came to me about the show, he hadn’t even really written a word. I went to his ranch in Texas, and we had a couple tequilas. He laid it out for me, and I liked the concept. I thought, “well, he’s a good person to lay a bet on.”
It’s now well-known that you spoke to Helen Mirren before accepting the offer. Why did you reach out to her?
Because I didn’t have any scripts or anything. I thought: “This is the middle of nowhere in Montana. I’m going to have to relocate for a long time.” I was trying to find out as much information as I could. I don’t know Helen, but I reached out to her, and she was gracious enough to speak to me. She just said: “Scripts are brilliant. You don’t see much of Taylor, but you don’t need to because you don’t need to change anything. Productions are best productions I have ever worked on.” I thought, “okay, well, that’s a pretty high recommendation.”
And Kurt, did you need the same level of convincing?
KURT RUSSELL: No, no.
MP: He had scripts to read [laughs].
KR: My scripts were there. She took a leap of faith. She made the first move. I was in a situation where, scheduling wise, I was wanting to do the show, but didn’t know if I was going to be able to. They were able to work it out, and I had four scripts to read. Plus, I knew Michelle was playing Stacy, so it was easy for me to say “yes.” I could read it and see it and there was nothing not to want to be a part of.
Michelle, you must carry the memory of Stacy’s and Preston’s love story in the present, which is a huge undertaking even though we get these wonderful flashbacks. Can you talk about crafting that love story from the beyond?
MP: Well, it really helped to know Kurt and have worked with him. When you work with people, you bond and you become friends. He was my confidant and my biggest supporter. During the casting process, when Kurt’s name came up, it was like, “oh my God, yes, it has to be Kurt Russell.” I ended up having to shoot my side of things in the first season without him. Somebody was reading his lines off camera for me, but I could totally hear Kurt’s voice. Taylor clearly wrote it with Kurt in mind.
KR: Yeah, he did write it with us in mind. I didn’t know that until just recently. When I learned that Michelle was going to do it, I thought, “well, that’s just right.” Then, I started reading those first scripts from the point of view of playing Preston. It hit pretty close to home. Taylor captured our voices, but it’s always one thing to read something and then another to try to execute it. The execution this time—I know from him—was what he was hoping to see.
We had to wait 2 episodes until we see Preston in the bath with Stacy, and it’s a wonderful scene where they talk about their daughter Abby (Beau Garrett) and you see how differently they want to parent. Can you talk to me about that scene? Were they able to keep the water warm?
MP: Oh, yes.
KR: It was physically hard because it was a huge bathtub. I actually didn’t like the way it was shot. We should have been higher up in the bathtub, but I’m not going to complain about it. I thought it was a sweet scene. Though, it was hard to film. I remember putting my legs around your hips.
MP: It was very…
KR: We kept sliding [laughs].
MP: We kept sliding down. [Laughs] Those things aren’t very easy to film.
KR: [Still laughing] And your foot’s going up here like [gesturing upwards]. That scene was physically hard to do.
MP: It was.
The first 3 episodes of The Madison are now streaming on Paramount+
Paramount+ / Emerson Miller
Photo: Emerson Miller/Paramount+
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