Michelle Pfeiffer’s role as Elvira Hancock in Scarface is remembered as one of her most iconic performances — but landing it was anything but easy.

Speaking on the Sept. 29 episode of the SmartLess podcast, the 67-year-old actress reflected on the 1983 crime drama, directed by Brian De Palma and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana. 

Pfeiffer admitted she had no idea the film would go on to become a cultural phenomenon.

Filming, however, was grueling, as per People. 

“I was playing a coke addict, so I was not eating. And I kept getting skinnier and skinnier. The crew were bringing me bagels,” she said, adding that the final scene — which required her to look “strung out” — was repeatedly delayed.

At just 23, Pfeiffer felt out of her depth. “I didn't feel worthy. I didn't feel like I had the chops. I had zero confidence,” she said. 

As per the outlet, the male-dominated set also added to the intensity, “Gangster guys and machismo — they were all kind of in character all the time.”

Moreover, she revealed that Pacino initially didn’t want her in the role. 

During a key screen test, Pfeiffer accidentally cut his hand while performing the dramatic restaurant scene. 

Instead of holding it against her, Pacino reportedly changed his mind. “I think that was the day he was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think she's not bad,’” she recalled.

Furthermore, the experience left Pfeiffer with a new outlook: “Fear is the worst. It’s an actor’s enemy. My mantra after that was, ‘I don’t give a s---.’”

Though Scarface drew mixed reviews on release, it was a box office success and cemented Pfeiffer as a rising star. 

Five years later, she earned her first Academy Award nomination for Dangerous Liaisons, followed by nods for The Fabulous Baker Boys and Love Field.