Michelle Pfeiffer explores grief in Sheridan’s ‘The Madison’

While there are moments that proved interesting, the Oscar nominee says she doesn’t know if she could live a rustic life. The cabin lacks indoor plumbing and boasts minimal electricity.

“I would definitely need a real bathroom … and some coffee,” she says.

Interestingly, Pfeiffer said yes to the project without reading a word of Sheridan’s script.

“As in television a lot of the times, the scripts come kind of close to shooting. And that was the case here. So there wasn’t a lot of time to do my typical preparing, which I think was a blessing,” Pfeiffer says. “I was forced to work more instinctually. I try to plan things out, and there was just no room for that. It allowed me to show up and be present and trust the words … and let things happen.”

The weather — with 60 mph winds — became a challenge.

“Your hair was just all over the place,” Pfeiffer says. “All of that just becomes so distracting and also really stressful for everyone around trying to just do their job.”

Sheridan, she says, spoke passionately about her character and the family dynamics when he presented the series concept. Stacy Clyburn – the character she plays — “was someone I could relate to.”

Then, too, the series’ theme was compelling.

“When you get to my age, you’ve had enough people close to you pass away,” she says. “And so you don’t have to look too far for inspiration for that, unfortunately.

“What’s really surprising is how much it affects men. Maybe it speaks to grief in a way that they’ve experienced but haven’t really been able to express. And maybe it takes them by surprise. People have lost their homes in a fire. People have lost jobs they expected to retire in. Loss is a really universal experience.”