Madonna Made Her Acting Debut in First Major Film 41 Years Ago Today
In April 1985, it was pure, unadulterated Madonna mania. The Queen of Pop had dropped her second album Like a Virgin in late 1984. She had already met future husband (and future ex-husband) Sean Penn on the set of her “Material Girl” music video in February. Then, simply as she was about to kick off The Virgin Tourshe additionally made her performing debut. Desperately Seeking Susanstarring Madonna, opened 41 years in the past on April 12, 1985.
Dedicated Madonna followers will need to carry up Madonna’s earlier underground movie A Certain Sacrificewhich wrapped in 1981, however it was a low-budget impartial movie. Madonna additionally acquired display time in the 1985 film Vision Questhowever solely as an unnamed singer in a membership with none actual traces. SW Desperately Seeking Susan …it actually was her first true performing position in main industrial movie.
Related: Madonna Joins Hit Show for Her First TV Role in Decades
in Desperately Seeking SusanMadonna stars alongside Rosanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn. Arquette performs Roberta Glass, a bored New Jersey housewife who turns into obsessive about a thriller girl named Susan (performed by Madonna) she’s following by way of private advertisements. Things occur and, in half, due to one super-cool, gold pyramid jacket, Roberta will get mistaken for Susan, which units her off on a brand new bohemian journey in New York.
Desperately Seeking Susan was a strong field workplace successtoo, grossing over $27.3 million in the US
Check out among the occasions surrounding the Desperately Seeking Susan film.
Rosanna Arquette and Madonna pose on the Desperately Seeking Susan set:
Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
Here’s Madonna in lace and fur, attending the Desperately Seeking Susan opening:
Photo by Bettmann on Getty Images
Check out the Desperately Seeking Susan Blu-ray cowl (matches the film posters):
And here is Madge decked out in her official Desperately Seeking Susan lewk:
Photo by Sunset Boulevard on Getty Images
Watch the official Desperately Seeking Susan trailer:
Madonna went on to star in a string of memorable moviestogether with Shanghai Surprise (1986), alongside then-husband Penn, Who’s That Girl? (1987), Dick Tracy (1990), alongside, then-boyfriend Warren Beatty, A League of Their Own (1992), and Avoid (1996). She additionally appeared in the documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991).
The singer was not too long ago noticed on the set of The Studio, Seth Rogan‘s Emmy-award-winning present. She’s reportedly becoming a member of for Season 2 of the Apple TV present.
This story was initially revealed by Parade on Apr 12, 2026, the place it first appeared in the News part. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
