Life on the set of “The Madison” was far less glamorous than viewers might expect, according to actress Michelle Pfeiffer, who says filming the hit drama often meant enduring harsh outdoor conditions with few comforts available.
According to Fox News, the 67-year-old star recently reflected on the experience during an appearance on the Los Angeles Times podcast “In Conversation: The Madison,” where she described the rugged environment surrounding production in Montana and Texas.
“You may as well be in a tent because, you know, there is no bathroom,” Pfeiffer said while discussing the remote filming locations.
“Even the outhouse is not real. So there’s no AC, there’s no plumbing, there isn’t anything,” she continued. “But it is breakthtakingly glorious.”
Pfeiffer stars as Stacy Clyburn in the Paramount+ series created by Taylor Sheridan. Her character is the matriarch of a wealthy New York family who relocates to Montana after suffering a devastating tragedy.
According to Pfeiffer, the production setup created challenges for the cast during long shooting days.
“It took a while [to get used to] because they built that cabin,” she explained. “It was all a little bit rushed for everyone, and so there weren’t certain accommodations set up.”
The actress said the show’s filming style also limited where trailers and equipment could be placed.
“We didn’t really have a trailer there because they were shooting 360 [degrees]. So, they couldn’t have a bunch of trailers around,” she said.
That left cast members without many basic conveniences nearby while filming outdoors through both extreme heat and winter cold.
“There was really no place for us to sit,” Pfeiffer recalled. “There was no bathroom nearby. There was no food.”
“And in the winter, it was cold. It was like, ‘Could we have a heater?’ And in the summer, it was like, ‘Could I get an umbrella because the sun’s really intense?’”
She added that the production team eventually adapted as filming progressed.
“It took us about halfway through to figure all of that out.”
Pfeiffer also admitted she initially hesitated before signing onto the series because Sheridan had not yet written scripts for the show.
Speaking earlier this year to The Hollywood Reporter, she called joining the project “a big leap of faith.”
“[Tyler] wanted to know who Stacy was before he started writing. I wanted to know who Stacy is before I committed,” Pfeiffer said. “And so we went back and forth like that for a little while, and it became clear to me I wasn’t going to win this battle.”
She eventually reached out to actress Helen Mirren, who previously worked with Sheridan on “1923.”
“And she just glowed; she couldn’t say enough nice things,” Pfeiffer said of Mirren’s recommendation.
“She said the scripts were great, the productions were perfect. She was having the time of her life; she loved Montana.”
Pfeiffer said that reassurance convinced her to take the role.
“I thought, ‘Well, the guy has a pretty darn good track record.’”
“The Madison” later became Sheridan’s biggest series launch after the premiere reportedly drew 8 million global streaming views within its first 10 days. The show has already been renewed for a second season.
