Michelle Pfeiffer Reveals Al Pacino Bleeding Incident During ‘Scarface’ Audition

Los Angeles, CA — Actress Michelle Pfeiffer shared a surprising audition story about her experience auditioning for the iconic role of Elvira Hancock in the classic film ‘Scarface‘. In a recent podcast episode aired on September 29th, Pfeiffer, now 67, funny recalled an incident where she accidentally made co-star Al Pacino bleed during her screen test over 40 years ago.

Pfeiffer, who was just 23 at the time, was nervous about landing the role and described her initial auditions as getting “worse and worse.” She recounted a conversation with director Brian De Palma, where he told her, “You know, doll, it’s just not going to work out.”

However, after a month of disappointment, she received a call inviting her back for a screen test. This time, she decided to embrace her nerves. “I show up and I don’t even give a s— because I know I’m not getting this part,” she humorously recalled, noting that this attitude led to her best performance during the auditions.

During the test, things took a chaotic turn when Pfeiffer inadvertently swiped a table, causing dishes and glasses to shatter and blood to spill from Pacino’s cut finger. “I thought, ‘Well, there goes that part,’” she said. Surprisingly, Pacino took the incident in stride, and Pfeiffer speculated that the mishap might have turned the favor in her direction regarding the role.

Throughout her conversation with Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett, she reflected on her challenging journey during the filming of ‘Scarface’. She described the intense environment on set, which was dominated by “gangster guys and machismo” that left her feeling out of place. “I didn’t feel worthy,” she admitted, expressing her fears of inadequacy at the start of her career.

Pfeiffer’s performance as Elvira helped launch her career, leading to several Oscar nominations, including for roles in ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ and ‘Love Field’. Despite her struggles, ‘Scarface’ has since become a classic film and remains a defining moment in her extensive acting career.