Selina Kyle

A meek secretary turned vengeful vigilante who kills Max Shreck before disappearing as the Bat-signal lights the sky.

Selina Kyle, portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton's 1992 film Batman Returns, begins as a meek secretary and assistant to wealthy industrialist Max Shreck. After uncovering his plot to siphon electricity from Gotham City, she is pushed out of a window by Shreck but survives thanks to awnings and trash. Awakened by alley cats, she suffers a psychotic breakdown and adopts the persona of Catwoman to seek revenge. She allies with the Penguin while knowingly dating Bruce Wayne, only for their secret identities to clash. In the climax, she kills Shreck by kissing him while holding a live electrical cable she has bitten, before disappearing into the night as the Bat-signal shines above.

Quick Facts

Series

Burton's Batman

First

Batman Returns (1992)

Based on

Catwoman
Bill Finger
Bob Kane

Adapted by

Tim Burton
Daniel Waters
Wesley Strick

Portrayed by

Michelle Pfeiffer

Voice

Clara Emanuel (Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight)

Partner

Bruce Wayne; Batman

Gender

Female

Lore & Background

In this version of Gotham, Selina Kyle is a much-abused assistant whose only companion is her cat, Miss Kitty. She endures rude comments from Shreck's spoiled heir son, Chip, and works a thankless job until she discovers Shreck's corruption regarding a power plant. After being pushed out of an office window by Shreck, she survives the fall and is found by alley cats, which triggers a transformation into Catwoman. She crafts a leather cat costume and robs several of Shreck's department stores. Selina forms an alliance with the Penguin (Danny DeVito) to destroy Batman, though he later tries to kill her when she refuses to continue their alliance and threatens to expose him. Her relationship with Bruce Wayne develops simultaneously; they eventually discover each other's secret identities, creating tension between their romantic connection and their opposing missions.

Reader's Guide

Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal of Catwoman was heavily influenced by the graphic novel Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper and the Pre-Crisis version of the character. The costume, an all-black update of the traditional green catsuit, was designed by Tim Burton to resemble a stuffed cat with stitches coming apart at the seams. Over 60 latex suits were created for the six-month shoot at $1,000 each, painted with white silicone rubber to imitate stitches. Pfeiffer had to be covered in talcum powder to squeeze into the tight suit and could only use the bathroom during lunch breaks when it was removed. She trained for months with kickboxing coach Kathy Long (who served as her body double) to master the whip, accidentally cutting her teacher's chin on the first day. The performance received universal acclaim, often cited as the greatest portrayal of the character, though Pfeiffer found it uncomfortable due to the costume's inhibitions.