Danny DeVito’s Unexpected Confession About Michelle Pfeiffer on Set

Danny DeVito opened up in a candid and playful sit-down for Variety’s “Actors on Actors”, where he and Colin Farrell bonded over their shared experience playing Oswald Cobblepot — better known as the Penguin, one of Batman’s most infamous villains — while swapping behind-the-scenes memories from their time in Gotham. But it was DeVito’s unfiltered admission about co-star Michelle Pfeiffer that quickly stole the spotlight.

“She was a goddess,” DeVito said of Pfeiffer, who starred as Catwoman opposite him in Tim Burton’s 1992 “Batman Returns”. “I got all flushed. Put extra makeup on — ‘Give me another pound of makeup.’ It was very difficult… and I lusted after her. I loved her.”

Farrell, who portrays a grittier, grounded version of the Penguin in “The Batman” and HBO Max’s “The Penguin”, couldn’t help but poke fun at the confession. “Did she call security?” he asked. DeVito laughed, responding, “I kind of feel like she liked it. She liked Oswald.”

DeVito also reflected on the day-to-day grind of transforming into the iconic villain. “It’s a cakewalk. I was there every day for 66 days,” he said. “In makeup, cooking pasta in the afternoon, making meatballs… In the middle of a scene, I told a guy, ‘Stir the sauce.’” Despite the hours in the chair, he said he’d return to the role “absolutely” if Burton ever called. “I loved it because it gave you a freedom that burst out,” he said.

DeVito Says Farrell’s Penguin “Gives Me a Run for My Money”

Since “The Penguin” has wrapped its debut season on Max and earned critical praise, comparisons between the two Cobblepots are as lively as ever. Still, there’s no rivalry — only respect.

In an interview with MovieWeb, DeVito praised Farrell’s performance as “really good” and said, “Colin’s giving me a run for my money.” While promoting his holiday film “A Sudden Case of Christmas”, he reflected on how their portrayals come from different angles but work equally well.

“Mine had no Italian overtones of mafia or guns,” he said. “I was the egomaniac trying to take over the city… a misunderstood bird who cannot fly.” In contrast, Farrell’s take is more of a mobster figure, but DeVito emphasized, “We both really do a substantially good job with Oswald from different angles.”

Both actors also related to the physical toll of the role. “I understand the trauma of going through hours and hours of makeup,” DeVito shared. “Colin could go anywhere with that makeup and sit in a restaurant… [but] it’s hard to hide me.”

Two Penguins, Two Catwomen, One Shared Legacy

While DeVito played opposite Pfeiffer’s seductive Selina Kyle, Farrell’s Penguin briefly crossed paths with Zoë Kravitz’s modern Catwoman. He described her as “wonderful,” despite their limited screen time.

The pair’s Variety conversation also touched on longevity, career shifts, and comedic inspirations. DeVito joked that “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is “I Love Lucy” “on acid,” while Farrell admitted he rewatched DeVito’s Penguin scenes before their chat.

Devito told MovieWeb, “We both do a substantially good job with Oswald from different angles.”

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