Michelle Pfeiffer has a long and decorated career in Hollywood but before she was Catwoman or a three-time Oscar nominee her days were overshadowed by a "financially draining" experience within a "controlling" cult.
The Madison star previously opened about the time she fell under the spell of a couple who practiced a dangerous belief that humans can survive on sunlight alone.
Here's what we know.
Young and naive
© Alamy Stock PhotoMichelle arrived in Los Angeles at just 20 years old to break into the entertainment industry. It was during this time that she fell in with a couple who she initially believed were simply "personal trainers" focused on weightlifting and strict vegetarianism.
"They worked with weights and put people on diets." Michelle explained to The Telegraph. "They were very controlling. I wasn't living with them but I was there a lot and they were always telling me I needed to come more. I had to pay for all the time I was there, so it was financially very draining."
They essentially bled her dry of the little money she had from her upcoming acting career. She also put her on a diet "nobody could adhere to."
Breatharianism
© FilmMagicThe movement is called Breatharianism, also known as Inedia which is Latin for fasting.
They believe a person can sustain thmselves through light and air alone, without need for food or water.
Her realization
© Getty ImagesIt wasn't until her husband at the time, Peter Horton, began researching a new movie about the Moonies – followers of Rev Moon Sun-myung’s Unification Church, Split Image, that things began to fall into place.
Michelle said she was researching "this cult," when she realized "I was in one."
"We were talking with an ex-Moonie and he was describing the psychological manipulation and I just clicked," Michelle added.
Breaking free
© Getty ImagesShe credited the Thirtysomething star, who was her first husband, for helping her to break free. While their union didn't last, and they divorced after seven years together, their break up was amicable.
Michelle was only 22 when they tied the knot, but as they were both trying to break into Hollywood at the time, their relationship took a backseat to their careers.
Michelle went on to marry David E. Kelley, who remains her husband today. The couple share two grown children.
She later said of her first marriage: "I married Peter at a very young age. I’m not the same person I was then."
Michelle added in Parade: "I forget I was even married before," revealing her children didn't even know about her first time down the aisle.
"I do forget," Michelle added. "Actually, I didn’t tell my kids for the longest time. They were old when I finally said, 'Oh, by the way, just FYI, I was married once before.' They were like, 'What?!' It had never occurred to me to tell them."
