A talented actress who cares about what she does--and shows it in her performances--Michelle Pfeiffer (1957-) was born on this day in Santa Ana, California. The beautiful blonde paid her dues as an eye doctor's assistant and grocery checkout clerk before finding fame in Hollywood.

"Just standing around looking beautiful is so boring, really boring, so boring," said Pfeiffer, who won the 1978 Miss Orange County beauty pageant.

After appearing in commercials and two television series, her film break came with Grease 2 (1982), the sequel to the 1978 blockbuster. 

"I learned how to act on the screen," confessed Pfeiffer who won rave reviews as Elvira in the cult classic Scarface (1983, w/Al Pacino) and as Angela in the offbeat comedy Married to the Mob (1988).

"She seems born to be in the movies," said Stephen Frears who directed Pfeiffer in Dangerous Liaisons (1989). A role she called "the most emotionally wrenching" and garnered her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. 

"I learned the importance of going with what you're afraid of--you can get rewarded for that," she said.

Pfeiffer received her second Oscar nomination as Best Actress for her work as lounge singer Suzie Diamond in the grown-up love story, The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989). The petite star sizzled in the role, singing Making Whoopee while spread-eagle atop a piano in a tight red dress. "It was very liberating to play," she said.

About her film choices she said: "I base my decisions on what I like--parts like the teacher in Dangerous Minds (1995), which I think my kids will be proud of. It's really not any more calculated than that."

Her range of critical and commercial successes celebrate her care and class as an actress. "I don't want to be embarrassed by my choices," explained Pfeiffer who is also a committed mother, wife, and producer.

"I find the less you focus on your flaws, the better off you are. Be yourself and be glad of who you are," she said.

Let your caring shine through what you do.