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PRAISE FOR MICHELLE PFEIFFER

Among women of a certain age, there is no fonder topic of conversation than bad plastic surgery. Tabloids (and dozens of websites) have made sport of the subject, pointing out celebrity trout lips and bad boob jobs with the wicked glee of grade-school bullies.

Sure, there is vindictive satisfaction in seeing the beauties of yore vainly transformed into cartoons of their former selves. The pressures of a youth- and beauty-driven industry has done creepy things to the once stunning faces of Goldie Hawn, Melanie Griffith, Madonna, Faye Dunaway and Meg Ryan, among others.

Yet there is one woman who has eluded this chamber of horrors (perhaps owing to a more subtle surgeon). At 51, Michelle Pfeiffer continues to look eerily radiant, even youthful, as Léa de Lonval in "Cherí", a new film by Stephen Frears, based on a novel by Colette.

As a Parisian courtesan, Pfeiffer exudes the blend of fragility and chilliness that permeates her best roles, starting with Elvira Hancock in "Scarface". With time, her cool veneer has mellowed into something like elegance, even dignity. Pfeiffer is sexy, but as appealing to women as she is to men.

Pfeiffer's appeal isn't purely physical. Sure, her reed-thin figure, milky skin and mature self-possession help to make her character's affair with Cherí (played by a strapping young Rupert Friend) entirely believable. Elaborate costumes, tender lighting and a full cosmetics team help, too. But there's something in Pfeiffer's manner that carries the promise of restraint. It is as though she knows the power of her face, and won't tamper with it lightly.

"Cherí", directed by Stephen Frears, in select cinemas

~ MOLLY YOUNG