To say the least, she’s so much more than a singer. She’s an influential cultural icon whose name is synonymous with female empowerment, innovative style, and, most of all, fearless ambition.
In the 1970s and early ’80s, outside the local independent music scene in NYC where she was a backup singer and dancer, she was otherwise unknown to the world. A 5’4 singer and dancer with boundless dreams namedMadonna Louise Cicconefrom Bay City, Michigan, was determined to establish herself nationally. In 1983, she began doing so with the success of her music hits “Holiday” and “Borderline.”
By 1984 Ciccone’s career skyrocketed further through the stratosphere with the release of her second album and single, “Like a Virgin,” which remains one of the top-selling singles of all time for one of the most famous mononym-identifying celebrities ever, Madonna.
It was in 1985, however, when the world was also introduced to Madonna’s on-screen acting talent, and she began to be known, too, as an actress. With the release of films such asA Certain SacrificeandVision Quest,she was being buzzed about, but it was her filmDesperately Seeking Susanthat established her as a viable quadruple threat: dancer, songwriter, singer, and respected actress.
While some of her films may be less memorable than others, and some may feel dated to watch, two ofMadonna’s movies have arguably enduredthe test of time.
A League of Her Own
After popular but critically panned performances in films such asShanghai Surprise,Dick Tracy,andWho’s That Girl, it was in 1992 when Madonna finally earned her deserved respect for her memorable performance as Mae “All The Way” Mordabito in the $132 million-grossing hit filmA League of Their Own,a fictionalized re-telling aboutthe true storyof the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) which existed from 1943 until 1954.
The film may be over thirty years old, but partially because it was a well-produced period piece, it doesn’t feel dated at all. The entire theme, the empowerment of women, is something that can quite literally never get old. Women will always need reminders of what they are capable of, not in spite of being a woman but because of it.
AlthoughA League of Their Ownwas a delightfully balanced ensemble cast—starring Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, and Tom Hanks, among others—it was Madonna’s portrayal ofa hot-tempered former taxi-dancer, who had to master self-control over her anger to achieve success, that stood out then and remains unforgettable.
Just like the fellow New Yorker, Madonna, who portrayed her, the character Mae owned and regulated her sexiness without hesitation. She was confident, funny, brazen, and very no-nonsense. She was also genuine. From the 1940s to the 1990s and still now today, this is a welcomed image of and for women and women’s friendship.
Related:Madonna’s 7 Best Performances, Ranked
Another role that Madonna was cast in and had somewhat of a personal parallel with almost didn’t happen. Though Madonna personally hand-wrote a letter to director Alan Parker asking to be cast as Eva Peron—the real-life first lady of Argentina—inEvita,once she was, there were protests throughout the country.
Eva Peron, the First Lady of Argentina, also known by her nickname “Evita,” was a political activist, philanthropist, and actress. So beloved by so many in Argentina, Peron, a woman forever associated as anexample of female empowerment, was given a state funeral upon her death.
While, like Madonna, Peron was known and respected for her style and larger-than-life persona, Argentinians feared that Madonna’s sexuality-driven reputation would overshadow Peron’s historical legacydespiteher own rumored promiscuity. This was all the storm before the calm, however, because as she has always done, Madonna sought to prove everyone wrong.
Protective citizens throughout Argentina feared Madonna’s performance would somehow soil Peron’s legacy and place in history, but onceEvita –a musical in which Madonnasang every track with such captivating and heartbreaking passion – was released in theaters in 1996, the reception for Madonna changed for the better throughout the country. Even the United States saluted Madonna’s performance.
Related:The Best Musicals With a Dark Side, Ranked
Madonna went on to win “Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy” at the 1997 Golden Globe Awards and received consistent critical accolades. Although the film was over two hours long, it—and Madonna’s incredible performance—was so captivating that watching it never felt excessive. Sometimes when stories are great enough, they should not and perhaps cannot be rushed for the sake of brevity.
Eva Peron’s life was a balance of equal amounts of controversy and respect. In some ways, the two women had a lot in common, and perhaps that is why Madonna felt so driven to take on the role. Like Peron, Madonna’s name willalwaysbe synonymous with unabashedly flawed greatness. Some women and some women’s performances deserve to be acknowledged as simply timeless.
