For decades, audiences admired the sizzling chemistry between Michelle Pfeiffer and John Malkovich in the 1988 Oscar-winning film Dangerous Liaisons.
But now, Malkovich has opened up about a secret that few knew at the time: their on-screen connection didn’t stay on screen.
The 71-year-old actor has confirmed that he and Pfeiffer had a real-life affair during filming—an affair that ultimately ended both of their marriages.
Confessions on the Fashion Neurosis Podcast
Speaking candidly on the Fashion Neurosis podcast, Malkovich reflected on how quickly emotional bonds can form while working closely with others.
“In the work I do, you make emotional bonds very quickly,” he said.
“For me, she was someone I valued greatly as a colleague, was fun, moving, and incredibly fair. And I certainly wasn’t.”
He went on to explain how crossing the line from professional admiration to something more personal can come at a steep cost.
“When that relationship becomes more than collegial or a profound friendship, you lose a great colleague,” he admitted, hinting at a mix of personal failings and inevitable complications.
Marriages Shattered Amid Hollywood Glamour
The affair had immediate consequences. Pfeiffer filed for divorce from her husband Peter Horton in 1988, while Malkovich’s marriage to actress Glenne Headly collapsed during the film’s production.
A source close to Headly told the Mail on Sunday, “Glenne was no fool.
She could see what was going on. The whole world was falling in love with Michelle Pfeiffer, and so was her husband.
She served him with divorce papers as soon as the movie wrapped.”
Dangerous Liaisons: Art Imitates Life
Dangerous Liaisons, adapted from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 18th-century French novel, is widely celebrated for its intricate depiction of lust, manipulation, and betrayal among the aristocracy.
Malkovich played the amoral Vicomte de Valmont, while Pfeiffer portrayed the virtuous Madame de Tourvel, and Glenn Close starred as the cunning Marquise de Merteuil, whose schemes drive the story.
The blurred lines between fiction and reality made headlines at the time.
Director Stephen Frears later told The New York Times, “[Malkovich’s] marriage was breaking up and during the movie he was having an affair with Michelle Pfeiffer… it was overwhelming for John.
Even for a man who delights in bad behaviour, that was a difficult time.”
Hollywood Fallout and Life After the Affair
Despite the scandal, life moved on. The film itself was critically acclaimed, winning three Oscars for costumes, art direction, and adapted screenplay, and earning a Best Picture nomination.
Pfeiffer went on to marry TV writer David E. Kelley in 1993, and the couple have two children and a reputation for one of Hollywood’s happiest unions.
Meanwhile, Malkovich has been with director Nicoletta Peyran since 1989.
Pfeiffer, now 67, has chosen to remain silent publicly about the affair, maintaining her characteristic discretion.
When Life Mirrors Art
The story of Dangerous Liaisons serves as a stark reminder of how life and art can collide.
What began as a tale of seduction, betrayal, and manipulation in 18th-century France spilled into the real lives of two of Hollywood’s most talented actors—changing personal lives as dramatically as the plot of the film itself.