Michelle Pfeiffer Broke a Past Marriage Rule with Husband David E. Kelley for Her New Series “Margo's Got Money Troubles”

Toria SheffieldSat, April 18, 2026 at 11:36 PM UTC

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David E. Kelley and Michelle Pfeiffer at the premiere of 'Margot's Got Money Troubles,' in Austin on March 12, 2026Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV via Getty -

Michelle Pfeiffer broke a past marriage rule with husband David E. Kelley for her new series Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Pfeiffer, 67, plays a mother named Shyanne whose college-aged daughter gets pregnant unexpectedly in the Apple TV dramedy

Kelley, 70, created and produced the show

Michelle Pfeiffer broke a past marriage rule with husband David E. Kelley for her new series Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

The actress — who costars in the new Apple TV dramedy, which was created, co-written and produced by Kelley — previously said the pair had decided never to work together for the sake of their relationship.

Pfeiffer, 67, first spoke about the decision during a 2021 interview with The New Yorker.

David E. Kelley and Michelle Pfeiffer at 'The Madison' premiere in N.Y.C. on March 9, 2026Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty

"I’ve seen a lot of couples where they seem to have a really great marriage, and then they work together and next year they’re filing for divorce," the three-time Oscar nominee said.

She echoed the sentiment during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon the following year in 2022 when explaining why she doesn’t appear in the legendary television producer’s many projects. (Kelley, 70, created such mega hits as Ally McBeal, The Practice and Big Little Lies, to name just a few.)

"Nobody writes, honestly, better for women than he does," Pfeiffer said of Kelley. "It’s unbelievable. And yet, I value our relationship more than a good part, and I just think it’s too risky."

"We’re both kind of fierce when we work, and so if I come home, and I’ve had a bad day, and I’m upset about something, I want him to be on my side because he hasn’t heard the other side," she continued. "There’s value in that."

However, Pfeiffer seemingly broke her own rule for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, in which she plays Shyanne, the mother of the titular Margo (Elle Fanning).

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The Madison actress opened up about the decision to take the part during a recent appearance on Today.

Michelle Pfeiffer and Elle Fanning in 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' on Apple TVCredit: Apple TV

“My husband and I have never worked together, and there was this book lying on the counter in the kitchen, and I kept walking by it, looking at it, you know, because the cover is actually kind of intriguing,” she recalled, referring to the bestselling novel by Rufi Thorpe.

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“He said, ‘Oh, yeah … that’s a book that we've optioned. Oh, and by the way, there's a part in there that everyone thinks no one can play but you,’ “ Pfeiffer recalled.

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“So I read it, and I'm like, ‘Hmm. Okay. Maybe it's because I'm actually from Orange County [like the character] — I was born and raised there — but I just fell madly in love with her, and I couldn't imagine anyone else playing her,” she explained.

Kelley agreed with the assessment. While speaking about the role to The Hollywood Reporter in February, he felt “lucky” that Pfeiffer wanted to be a part of the project.

"When I read the book, I could only see one person playing it, and we’re lucky enough that she said yes, the second luckiest yes I’ve gotten from her," Kelley said.

Pfeiffer and Kelley first met on a blind date in 1993.

David E. Kelley and Michelle Pfeiffer in 2000Credit: SGranitz/WireImage

The Scarface actress and the then-TV writer instantly hit it off. At the time, Pfeiffer was already in the process of adopting her daughter, Claudia, and she and Kelley had been dating for about two months when she brought her home.

"We had this child with us right away, and most people don't have that. But I really got to see [Kelley] in a situation that certainly would separate the boys from the men. Obviously, he really rose to the occasion," Pfeiffer told Good Housekeeping in June 2007.

"We both got to see each other as parents before we progressed in our relationship together and, in a strange way, it took the pressure off as a couple,” she added.

The couple married in November 1993, and Kelley officially adopted Claudia that same year. They welcomed their son, John Henry, the following year.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”