To Michelle on Her 67th Birthday

Today, on our Queen and Savior Michelle Pfeiffer’s 67th birthday, I couldn’t help play off the title of one of her lesser-referenced films, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996). Adapted by Michelle’s hubby David E. Kelley from a play, Gillian centers on a father (Peter Gallagher) and daughter (Claire Danes) still struggling to process the death of their wife and mother, respectively, from two years previous. As the deceased Gillian, Michelle appears as a manifestation of Gallagher’s grief, and their brief but touching “conversations” help Gallagher’s character begin to take his first steps towards giving up the ghost and tentatively moving on with his life to be the attentive father his daughter needs.

Michelle’s titular role is small in screen time, but large in impact. Still, the film and the role are minor entries in her extensive and impressive filmography. Even so, I couldn’t resist a play on its title today, of all days. The Pfeiffer-Kelley combo is also on my mind because Michelle is currently working on the hub’s forthcoming Apple TV+ series, Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Based on this set photo that Michelle shared on Instagram, the series cannot come fast enough.

Daaaaayum. Those legs should be registered weapons. That is 67? Yowza.

As Michelle completes another trip around the sun, here’s to more great work in her future. Happy birthday, pretty and talented lady!