As an aging courtesan in “Cheri,” Michelle Pfeiffer schools a fresh-faced Rupert Friend in the ways of life and love, but off-camera the veteran actress didn’t have to do any hand-holding. “That wasn’t really necessary,”
Pfeiffer said before the film’s Cinema Society and Noilly Prat-hosted screening on Tuesday. “[Rupert is] probably more mature than I am, honestly.”

For his part, Friend couldn’t help but gush about his co-star and her oevre, especially one of her sexier roles. “When I was a kid, I loved ‘Batman Returns’ and Catwoman,” said the Brit, who saw a decidedly less feral Pfeiffer during the filming of their love scenes. “Well, she wasn’t wearing rubber, to be fair,” he joked.

Following the screening, Friend and Pfeiffer, along with cast mate Kathy Bates, director Stephen Frears and screenwriter Christopher Hampton reconvened at the Hudson Hotel after-party, where they were joined by Dana Delany, Dree Hemingway, and Scout and Tallulah Belle Willis.

See WWD's profile on Pfeiffer >>