John Malkovich has finally spoken publicly about his affair with Michelle Pfeiffer, which occurred during the filming of Dangerous Liaisons in 1988. The 71-year-old actor admitted on the Fashion Neurosis podcast that the relationship, which ended both his marriage to Glenne Headly and Pfeiffer's marriage to Peter Horton, remains a source of deep regret.
Malkovich described losing Pfeiffer as a colleague and friend as the most painful consequence. 'She was someone I valued greatly as a colleague, was great fun and moving, and with me, incredibly fair. And I certainly wasn't,' he said. 'I think I've learned that a great colleague is actually rarer than anything. When that relationship becomes more than collegial ... you lose a great colleague.'
He contrasted this with his 33-year working relationship with Lithuanian actress Ingeborga Dapkunaite, noting that they have remained friends because they never crossed a certain line. 'That's what I've learned – that when a thing like that happens, it probably might be not retrievable,' he added.
Malkovich's marriage to Headly, who died in 2017, ended the year Dangerous Liaisons was released. He later married Italian production designer Nicoletta Peyran, with whom he has two children. Pfeiffer, who has never commented on the affair, married TV producer David E. Kelley in 1993 and has two children with him.
