PINPOINT PROF Date of birth: 8:11 AM on 29 April 1958 Starsign: A Taurus, in sun and moon Numerology: 4

Parents: Richard (Dick) and Donna Pfeiffer

Siblings: Older brother, Richard (Rick). Two younger sisters, DeDee and Lori

Spouse: First husband, actor-director Peter Horton (1982-1987) more commonly recognised as Gary in 'Thirtysomething'.

Husband (13 November 1993-), TV-writer-producer David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, The Practice, Chicago Hope, Picket Fences, LA Law.)

Children: Adopted Claudia Rose (5) and son with David, John Henry (4)

Celeb Quotes on Michelle:

Jack Nicholson-'She's a good egg, I'm crazy about her... You couldn't really say Michelle is glacial, but there's obviously something oscillating beneath the surface there. Her first look at people is "Yeah, well, what do you want?" It's a form of protection because she's very sensitive.'

Cher- 'She's the clumsiest woman I've ever met. She has this angelic face, and then she gets up and wobbles across the room like a duck, so it makes you laugh... I love her, but it's almost impossible to get close to her. She's just very, very private.'

Winona Ryder- 'While we were filming The Age of Innocence, I was breaking up with Johnny Depp & having a rough time. She really took me under her wing & took care of me. It did take a while to get to know her but I respect that. I've had actresses call me & say, "We're both famous, let's hang out." Michelle isn't like that.'

Rob Reiner (The Story of Us Director)- 'She's in the pantheon of great movie actresses of all time- Hepburn, Stanwyck, she's right up there. She's capable of anything: She can be funny, she can do drama. Stunning beauty and exquisite talent- it's rare to get that package; you can count those actresses on the fingers of one hand. And you rarely get an actor who's a creative partner. Michelle had wonderful suggestions, not only about her own role, but the overall film, about the tone of the scene, what it's really about- a director's take on things. Ultimately, if she wanted to, she'd make a really fine director.'

Jacquelyn Mitchard (author of The Deep End of the Ocean)- 'She has become more luminous the more mature she has become.'

Michael Hoffman (One Fine Day, A Midsummer Night's Dream director)- 'She's the Greek ideal; the closer you get the camera to her face, the more beautiful she is. It has something to do with the structural perfection of her beauty, the marble-y cool quality of it.'

Above left: Michelle with friends Sharon Stone and Melanie Griffith Above right: Michelle and hubby David E. Kelley