Michelle Landau
| Michelle Landau | |
|---|---|
| File:Michelle Landau.jpg | |
| First appearance | Cindy Plumb (episode 4.01) |
| Created by | Ryan Murphy |
| Portrayed by | Sanaa Lathan |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Spouse | Burt Landau |
Michelle Landau is a character that first appeared in the fourth season premiere of the television series, Nip/Tuck. She is played by the actress Sanaa Lathan. Intended to be the series antagonist for the fourth season, she is a successful businesswoman who makes a successful offer to buy the plastic surgery firm from McNamara/Troy in the premiere episode of the new season.
She is married to a much older wealthy man who joined her in buying out McNamara/Troy, however she has a secret past with a woman named James that haunts her. She is now having trouble with Liz, since the latter discovered her secret (or at least the tip of the iceberg) and she wanted to fire her but was stopped by Dr McNamara.
Christian Troy blackmailed her into telling him about James. It was discovered that Michelle was an escort whilst attending medical school. James paid for Michelle to go to medical school and Michelle thought she had paid her back. However, James takes advantage of the fact that Michelle now owns a plastic surgery practice.
After blackmailing this out of Michelle, Christian blackmailed her again to sleep with him. But, the two had been seen together by James. Christian, not wanting Michelle to be hurt, paid off James for the rest of the pictures - after she promised to leave him, and Michelle, alone.
But, James does not keep her end of the bargin, and continues to haunt Mrs. Landau. At the end of episode 4.05, Dawn Budge, it was revealed that Michelle is one of the organ thieves that has been stealing kidneys from unsuspecting citizens, like Liz. And, according to James, she is one of the best.
It is hinted that Christian may have deep feelings for Michelle but it is unclear at this point. It is also unclear if Michelle has feelings for Christian. She is torn between her wife-duties towards Burt and her feelings toward Christian.
When Burt finds out that Christian Troy and Michelle had an affair, he brings them both to his house and forces them to have sex because Burt can no longer sexually pleasure Michelle. After the breakdown of this arrangement, Burt attempts to have sex with Michelle but has a stroke, after which Michelle denies him his medication and tells him that she no longer loves him, which causes him much stress. When Burt attempts to get his pills himself, he crawls down the stairs and dies of exhaustion. Michelle then removes Burt's kidney to give to James.
Christian proposes to Michelle.