Madonna

Madonna performing during the 2006 tour.
Background information
Birth | Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
Born | ,
Origin | , ,
, , , , , ,
Occupation(s) | , , , , , , and
and
Years | 1982 — present
(2005-present)
(1995-2004)
(1992-1995)
(1982-1992)
Website
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born , ), better known worldwide by only her first name Madonna, is an , , and , , , and . Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she is noted for her innovative , elaborately mounted stage performances, and use of political, sexual, and religious themes and imagery in her work.
In 2000, credited Madonna as the most successful female recording artist of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of 120 million albums. Her record label, .reported in 2005 that she had achieved international sales in excess of 200 million albums.
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Biography
Early life
Madonna Ciccone was born in , . She is the third of six children born to Silvio "Tony" P. Ciccone, a Chrysler engineer of extraction, whose parents originated from , in the region of , , and Madonna Louise Fortin, a . She was raised in a family in the suburbs of and . Madonna's mother died of at age thirty on , , and Madonna has frequently discussed the impact her mother's death had on her life and career, calling it "one of the hardest things I've faced in my life." Her father later married the family housekeeper, Joan Gustafson, and they had two children.
Tony Ciccone required his children to take music lessons; however, after a few months of lessons, Madonna convinced him to allow her to take classes instead. Madonna's ballet teacher, Christopher Flynn, mentored her in dance and provided Madonna with her first exposure to gay discotheques, a scene that would later have an impact on her music and style. She attended Rochester Adams High School, where she was a straight-A student, excelled at sports, and was a member of the squad. After graduating high school in 1976, she received a dance scholarship to the . In 1977, with Flynn's encouragement, Madonna left college at the end of her second year and moved to in July 1978 to pursue a dance career. Looking back at her arrival in New York, Madonna has said: "When I came to New York it was the first time I'd ever taken a plane, the first time I'd ever gotten a taxi-cab, the first time for everything. And I came here with 35 dollars in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I'd ever done."
Madonna experienced financial difficulties, and for some time lived in squalor and worked a series of low-paying jobs, including a stint at . She also worked as a nude model on occasion. She studied with and , and later performed with several companies, including and the . While performing as a dancer for the disco artist, , on his 1979 world tour, Madonna met and became romantically involved with the musician Dan Gilroy, with whom she later formed her first , the , in New York. In addition to providing vocals, she played drums and guitar, before forming the band Emmy in 1980 with drummer and former boyfriend . She and Bray wrote and produced a number of solo disco and dance songs that brought her local attention in New York dance clubs. and record producer was sufficiently impressed by her to bring them to the attention of founder .
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1980–1985: Beginning and rise to fame
Madonna in her first for "," a low-budget video that featured Madonna and her dancers in a rather dark New York club.
In 1980, Madonna signed a singles deal with in the that paid her $5,000 per song. Her first release, "," a self-written song produced by Mark Kamins, became a dance hit in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Chart, but failed to make an impact on the . It also gained airplay on U.S. R&B radio stations, leading many to assume that Madonna was a black artist. The double-sided 12" vinyl single featuring "" and "Physical Attraction" followed in late 1982, and was a success on the U.S. dance charts. These results convinced Sire Records executives to finance a full-length album.
Her (1983), a collection of dance songs, was primarily produced by , but early in the recording process both realized that they could not work well together. After initial production on the album was completed, Madonna took the finished but unsatisfactory album to her then-boyfriend, , who remixed and rearranged it. It reached number eight on the U.S. albums chart and contained five successful singles, including her first world-wide hit, "", and has since been certified 5x platinum with world sales in excess of twelve million copies. According to Australian music guru Ian "Molly" Meldrum, it was Australia who gave Madonna her first hit for the song "Holiday" on Meldrum's hugely popular show "Countdown." Madonna became popular with teenagers due to her sexy appearance, and it wasn't long before teenage girls, who were known as "wannabes", were dressing up as her.
Her follow up album, (1984), was an international success, and became her first number one album on the U.S. albums chart. Buoyed by the success of its , which reached number one across the world, including a six week stay at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, the album has sold nineteen million copies worldwide. and produced four top-five singles in the U.S. and the UK. Her performance of the song at the first , during which she writhed on the stage (on top of a wedding cake) wearing a combination bustier/wedding gown, lacy stockings and garters and her then-trademark "Boy Toy" belt, was the first of several public displays that boosted Madonna's fan base as much as they incensed some critics, who felt that her provocative style attempted to disguise an absence of talent.
"" (1984), directed by , was shot in , and featured Madonna dancing on a gondola and in a wedding dress.
In 1985, Madonna entered mainstream films, beginning with a brief appearance as a club singer in the film . The soundtrack to the film contained her second number one pop hit, the -nominated ballad "." Later that year she appeared in the commercially and critically successful film , with her comedic performance winning her positive reviews. The film introduced the dance song "", which was released as a to her single "", peaking at number five in the U.S. In Europe, "Into the Groove" became a major hit and her first number one.
She embarked on her first concert tour in the U.S. titled supported by .
In July 1985, and magazines published a number of black and white nude photos of Madonna taken in the late 1970s. The publications caused a swell of publicity and public discussion of Madonna, who remained unapologetic and defiant. Speaking to a global audience at the charity concert at the height of the controversy, Madonna made a critical reference to the media and vowed that, for her performance, she would not give her critics the satisfaction of taking off her jacket, despite the sweltering heat.
1986–1991: Artistic development
The music video for "" (1986), directed by , featured a 1950s theme.
Madonna's 1986 album presented a more musically and thematically mature album than its predecessors, prompting to declare, 'singing better than ever, Madonna stakes her claim as the pop poet of lower-middle-class America.' The album included the soulful ballad "", which she wrote for the film , starring then-husband . The album was also the first to credit her as producer. She collaborated with composer , who would become a long-time collaborator and friend. True Blue reached #1 in thirty-eight countries, and sold over 40 million copies worldwide, becoming her most successful studio album internationally, and produced five successful singles, including three #1 entries in the United States.
The music videos for the album True Blue displayed Madonna's continued interest in pushing the boundaries of the video medium to a cinematic level, including elaborate , and film devices such as character and plot. Though Madonna had already made videos expressing her sexuality, she added religious iconography, gender archetypes and social issues to her oeuvre, and these concepts would carry through her work for years to come. One notable example was the "" video, her first collaboration with French photographer .
In 1987, Madonna starred in the modestly successful film , and contributed four songs to its soundtrack, including the film's , which became an international hit and Madonna's sixth #1 single in the US.
In 1987, the star embarked on the successful , beginning her long association with backing vocalists and dancers and , and moving closer to the more elaborately staged theater-inspired concert tour. It also marked her first run-in with the , with the urging fans not to attend her performances in . The Vatican later expressed outrage at the unveiling of a racy 13-foot tall statue of Madonna, in the Italian town of .
Later that year, Madonna released a remix album, , which included one new track, "". Although the album did not reach the Top 10, it was certified platinum in the US.
"" (1989) caused controversy as it was condemned by the for its '' mixture of Catholic symbolism and eroticism.
Madonna's fourth album, 1989's , presented more reflective and personal lyrics and a more mature vocal style. Co-written and co-produced with and , it settled her as a serious pop artist. Most of the songs were recorded with all the musicians playing in the same room, which gave the album the straightforwardness and sincerity of a live recording. She teamed up with on a duet, who also lent his talent as a guitarist on two songs. Like a Prayer garnered Madonna the strongest reviews of her career and attracted a more mature audience. described the album as 'her best and most consistent', while Rolling Stone stated that the album is 'proof not only that Madonna should be taken seriously as an artist but that hers is one of the most compelling voices of the Eighties'. Like a Prayer produced five singles, including the #1 "" and "So much screwing."
In early 1989, Madonna signed an endorsement deal with soft drink manufacturer , which would debut her new song "Like a Prayer" in a Pepsi commercial that Madonna herself would also appear in. The commercial used a child's birthday party as a plot device, and was not controversial in itself; however, the following day, the music video for the song premiered on MTV. It featured many symbols, including , and was condemned by the Vatican for its "" mixture of Catholic symbolism and eroticism. It depicted a black man, who comes to the aid of woman being murdered, arrested for the crime and jailed, until Madonna, who has witnessed the crime, secures his release. Although the video denounced , Madonna was criticized for her use of symbols such as burning crosses. The public linked the commercial with the music video, and although they were different, Pepsi was subsequently bombarded with complaints and threats of boycotts; Pepsi withdrew the commercial from broadcasting, but Madonna was allowed to keep her five million dollar fee, as Pepsi had voided their contract. Sales for the album increased during the ensuing publicity, and it reached #1 on the US albums chart, ultimately being certified 4x platinum.
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Touches upon minor subject matter. It became the third single release from Like a Prayer and another Top 10 hit worldwide.
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A tribute to 'The Golden Age of Hollywood', it became Madonna's biggest hit of the 90s, reaching #1 in the UK and the US
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Featuring whispered and spoken vocals, it became one of Madonna's most controversial singles, due to its sexually explicit lyrics and music video.
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In 1990, Madonna starred as Breathless Mahoney in a film adaptation of the popular comic book series . To accompany the launching of the film, as well as to provide more material for her upcoming , she released , a novelty album, with songs inspired by the film's 1930s setting. It featured the #1 dance-floor anthem "" (which was a hommage to the Hollywood stars), the Gershwin-esque "", and three songs by (among them, "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)", which won an for 'Best Original Song'. I'm Breathless was a success in Europe, Australia and the United States, where it was certified 2x platinum.
The black and white music video for "" (1990) recalled the look of 1930s Hollywood films.
In addition, that year, Madonna released her first album, , which included two new songs, "" and "". The music video for "Justify My Love", again directed by Mondino, showed Madonna in a Parisian hotel, in suggestive scenes with her then-lover, gay icon and indie actor Tony Ward, as well as scenes of , with gay and lesbian characters, and brief nudity. It was deemed too sexually explicit for MTV, and was subsequently banned from the station. Warner Bros. Records released the video as a video single - the first of its kind - and it remains one of the highest-selling video singles of all time. "Justify My Love" itself reached #1 in the US singles chart.
In 1991, Madonna starred in her first documentary film, (also known as In Bed with Madonna outside North America), which chronicled her successful 1990 , as well as her personal life. The following year, she appeared in the film , and recorded the film's theme song, "", which became her tenth #1 single in the United States.
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1992–1997: Sex controversy and Evita
The controversial music video for "" (1992) was aired only three times on due to its highly charged sexual content.
In 1992, Madonna released the erotic book , photographed by long time collaborator . Adult in nature, it featured strong sexual content and graphic photographs featuring Madonna depicting simulations of sexual acts and . The book caused huge publicity at the time of its release, primarily leading to bad press and negative attitudes towards Madonna. Many critics considered it another calculated controversy timed to boost sales of her new album, which the public linked together because of their generally close release dates and overt sexual content.
(1992), produced primarily with , was disregarded as simply being a 'porn' album, with most people believing that all the album tracks were about sex, but in truth the album only featured 3 (out of 14) overtly sexual songs: 'Erotica', 'Where Life Begins' and 'Did You Do It?'. The album peaked at number two in the U.S. and produced six singles, with its most successful being its title track "," which became the highest-debuting (number two) single in the history of the U.S. chart. The controversial music video that accompanied the song only aired three times on due to its highly charged sexual content.
Her 1993 was her most explicit and controversial concert tour to date and featured Madonna dressed as a whip-cracking dominatrix, surrounded by topless dancers including Luca Tomassini and . The controversy caused by the tour followed Madonna when she caused uproar in by rubbing the island's flag between her legs on stage, while protested against her first-ever show in . Madonna would later comment that this period of her life was designed to give the world every single morsel of what they seemed to be demanding in their invasion of her private life. She hoped that once it was all out in the open, people could settle down and focus on her work.
Credited as one of Madonna's most experimental videos, "" (1995) directed by featured images inspired by paintings by artist .
After the raunchy sex period, Madonna released her sixth studio album, (1994), co-produced by and . Madonna at the time was inspired by R&B/Rock Singer debut album (1993), and was so in love with it that she recruited producer to help with her project. She was also responsible for making the call that landed Joi becoming the first black model in a major print ad campaign[]. The album features Madonna turning to a more R&B-flavoured sound. It was a success in Europe, Australia, and the United States, where it peaked at number three and was nominated for a Grammy in the category. With its title track partially written by , the album gave a hint of what would come musically a few years later. It produced four singles, including "," co-written and produced with . The song was a success on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one for seven consecutive weeks, but it was a commercial failure elsewhere in the world, becoming the first Madonna song not to chart in the UK Top 10, charting at Number 16 (the 2nd being 'Love Profusion). The song however was released around Christmas in the UK, which led to its chart failure (the weeks around Christmas are incredibly competitive in the UK music market, with great competition for artists and bands to achieve the UK Christmas Number 1 Single), and it has since surfaced that the single sold in excess of 100,000 copies in the UK that week, which is actually more than many of her top ten singles prior to that. The Michael Haussman -themed video, meanwhile, would later help her win the lead role in . In late 1995, Madonna released , a collection of her best ballads, which featured three new tracks, including a cover of 's classic "", which she recorded with British band , and the top ten hit "." The album just missed the top five on the U.S. charts; it has since been certified triple platinum.
In 1996, Madonna's most critically successful film, was released. The film's became her twelfth platinum album and produced two popular singles, "" and "," which was written specifically for the film. "You Must Love Me" won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song From a Motion Picture the following year. Madonna herself also won a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.
1998–2002: Return to commercial prominence
"" (1998), directed by , featured a high-speed video, showing ordinary people performing their daily routines.
Madonna's seventh album, (1998), blended her personal and introspective lyrics with Eastern sounds, down-tempo, electronic instrumentation, strings by and a strong rave flavor. The album reached number two on the U.S. albums chart and since its release has been certified 4x platinum. It earned Madonna the strongest reviews of her career since Like a Prayer and has been widely considered by critics to be one of her greatest artistic achievements. Amazon.com described the album as "her richest, most accomplished record yet", while Rolling Stone credited Madonna and her co-producer for "creating the first mainstream pop album that successfully embraces techno," stating that musically Ray of Light is her "most adventurous record" yet. Ray of Light produced five singles, including the European number one "". The album won four awards at the 1999 Grammy Awards and has been ranked #363 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Madonna followed the success of Ray of Light with the top-ten single "," a late 60's psyche-pop song she wrote with William Orbit and recorded for the (1999).
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A slow tempo dance track featuring Madonna's voice over layers of string arrangements and synthesizers. In the UK, it was seen as a "big comeback," becoming her first song ever to debut at number one and her first since 1990.
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Featuring acoustic guitars and a techno beat, it became a top-ten hit worldwide.
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In 2000, Madonna released her follow-up film to Evita. The film was a disappointment at the box office and was panned by critics. Madonna contributed two songs to the film's soundtrack, namely "Time Stood Still" and European number one "", a dance cover version of the 1970s single. (2000), her eighth studio album, had Madonna slightly step away from the exploration of spirituality and fame to get back to the "party" spirit of dance, pop, and music. However, she retained the introspective poignancy of Ray of Light in songs such as Paradise (Not for Me) and introduced guitars for a more folky note, notably in "" or ballads such as Gone. Music debuted at number one on the U.S. albums chart and became her first number one album release since (1989). Mainly co-written and produced with French house musician , the album produced three singles, including the worldwide number one "." The album's third single "" featured a controversial music video, directed by Madonna's husband , and was banned by and after just one airing due to its graphic violence. Not to be deterred, Madonna released the video as a video single and it became the best-selling video single of all time. To promote the album, Madonna staged a much-publicised visit to the , her first full appearance on the show since her . This time she surprised viewers by playing an acoustic version of "" on guitar, the first time she had played the instrument publicly since fronting the and Emmy in the early 1980's. She would continue to incorporate her guitar-playing into each of her future tours. After staging small one-off club shows in both and (the later providing for her first-ever performance streamed live on the internet), Madonna opened the 2001 with an energetic performance of "".
The music video for "" (2000).
In 2001, Madonna embarked on the , her first tour in eight years. The concert tour was successful, was the subject of a television special in the US, and was released on in November 2001 to coincide with the release of her second greatest hits album, . Unlike her previous compilation, GHV2 did not include any new songs, although clubs did receive multiple mega mixes for promotional play only. In 2002, she wrote and performed the theme song to the film , and had a cameo in the film as a fencing instructor. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for both a for Best Original Song (and a Golden Raspberry for Worst Song).
2003–2006: Commercial ups and downs
The original video for (2003) was widely seen as controversial and was revoked on the day of its release due to its graphic images and antiwar message.
Madonna's ninth studio album, (2003), in which her lyrics were themed on the aspects of the American dream, fame, fortune and society, polarized music critics with both extremely positive and extremely negative reviews. Arguably her most daring and musically extreme album, American Life presented a darker and more serious side of the singer. Once again, she teamed up with with string arrangement contributed by French musician, , who had already collaborated on Music, a gospel choir, and prominent acoustic guitars. The music video for the first single, "" caused controversy in the US, as it contained visceral scenes depicting war, explosions, and blood. The day before the video was to air on European television, Madonna pulled it and released instead an edited and much tamer version, which showed her singing in front of flags from around the world. The song failed to perform well on the U.S. singles charts, peaking at thirty-seven. Having sold just 4 million copies, American Life is the lowest selling album of her career. However, the album did peak at number one on the U.S. albums chart and became her second consecutive album to do so. American Life produced three more singles, which all failed to chart in the U.S., although they became modest hits around the world.
Later that year, Madonna performed a re-mixed version of her song "", which was arranged by Stuart Price aka "Thin White Duke" (whom she later would work with again for her Confessions album) with , , and at the MTV Video Music Awards. as Madonna kissed both Spears and Aguilera during the performance, and resulted in tabloid press frenzy. That fall, Madonna provided guest vocals on Spears' single "", which became a dance hit in the U.S. In an effort to boost sales of American Life, Madonna released , a remix that included remixes and some interesting rock versions of songs from American Life as well as "Your Honesty", a previously unreleased song from the era. The EP did not perform well on the charts and peaked outside the top 100 on the US albums chart. A lesser-known aspect of the American Life era is that Madonna worked with fashion photographer Steven Klein in what was to become a photo and video installation entitled X-static Process that would tour in major art galleries around the world. These images were to be used for her .
In 2004, Madonna embarked on , which featured fifty-six dates in the US, Canada, and Europe and became the highest-grossing tour of 2004, earning $125 million. Also in 2004, Madonna was involved in a brief legal battle with , with whom she co-owned record label . The legal dispute ended with Warner Music Group buying Madonna's shares in the record label. In January 2005, Madonna performed a cover version of the song on the televised U.S. aid concert "", which raised money for the victims in .
On August 16, 2005, her 47th birthday, Madonna was seriously injured after falling off a horse at Ashcombe House, her Wiltshire home. She suffered three cracked ribs, a broken collarbone, and a broken hand from her fall. Following her accident she filmed the video to her first single, "Hung Up," from her upcoming album "Confessions on a Dance Floor." At the time of filming the high-energy dance video, none of the broken bones had fully healed yet, and she relied heavily on painkillers to complete the video shoot.
Madonna's retro inspired "" (2005) music video.
Madonna's tenth album, (2005), was built as a continuous mix of dance songs, with musical elements borrowed from the '70s as well as her own repertoire. Produced by , it reached number one in 29 countries and has sold more than 8 million copies since its November 2005 release (over 1.5 million in the US). The album received the most positive reviews since 1998's , and was considered a return to form after the negative reception to . It has produced two successful singles, "", which featured a sample of the song "", and "". "Hung Up" became Madonna's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 since American Life in 2003. Worldwide, it surpassed and as the most successful single of her career. The follow-up single, "," became Madonna's twelfth number one in the UK. A third single, "", reached the UK Top 10 and became her thirty-sixth number one dance hit in the U.S. (the most for any artist in history), but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The fourth, and final single release from , is "", due in October 2006.
Madonna's , kicked off in late , selling out most venues in minutes, with her having to create additional dates to keep up with demand. The tour, which is expected to gross $200 million, may become the biggest ever tour in history by a female artist according to magazine. However, it also sparked controversy when she used religious symbols such as the crucifix and crown of thorns in her performance of "".
Madonna is currently working on her next album: "I'm writing the new album now, while we're on tour. I basically see no limits to what you can achieve. I have more club music in mind. It's where I started and funnily enough, it's now huge again. Why would I not want to make more music? I love it and so do my fans."
Acting and film career
See also:
Madonna's success in acting has been varied, but mostly heavily panned by critics. She was presented with a special award in the year 2000 as "Worst Actress of the Century"
In 1979, Madonna starred in , a low-budget film filmed long before she achieved widespread popularity as a successful recording artist. Its release in 1985 coincided in with the success of her second album Like a Virgin, and did not please Madonna who tried to prevent its release. A representative from Madonna offered to buy the rights of the film for $5000, which director Stephen Jon Lewicki refused. That same year Madonna appeared in two separate films. She made a cameo as a club singer in the film and garnered commercial and critical success in her first starring role in Susan Seidelman's film, , which told the story of a housewife who is fascinated with a woman she only knows about by reading messages to and from her in the personals section of a New York City tabloid. It was a commercial success and grossed $27 million in the United States alone. She appeared as Gloria Tatlock in the adventure drama film (1986) with her ex-husband . The film did nothing to further her acting career, was dismissed by moviegoers, and received poor reviews by critics, with many criticizing her acting, calling it wooden and unbelievable. Subsequent films such as (1987) and Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989), based on short stories by , failed to attract commercial and critical success. She was to appear in 's third and final chapter of the . Unfortunately, the director decided to alter the role, make it younger and gave it to his own daughter . Nevertheless Coppola went on praising 'how good that little Italian girl was!'
Madonna as in the film adaptation of the musical (1996).
In 1990, after a string of unsuccessful films, Madonna starred as Breathless Mahoney in the action film , directed by based on the popular 's . She sang three songs and played opposite histrionic as well as Warren Beatty. Although she received mostly positive reviews for her role, critics were quick to point out that her best-reviewed roles were ones where Madonna had played someone who is not unlike herself. In 1991, offered her a small role in as a trapeze artist opposite . The film was shot in black and white and was an hommage to cinema, backed by the music of . The following year, cast her in opposite , and . The film, which centered on a women's baseball team during , earned Madonna good reviews from critics for her lightweight and comedic performance. Following the backlash of her sexual provocative book Sex and its companion album Erotica, Madonna starred in the 1993 erotic-thriller with . The film was overwhelmingly panned by critics and performed poorly at the box office, while only serving to add fuel to Madonna's growing public backlash. Later that year she starred in Dangerous Game (aka Snake Eyes) by opposite and . The film revealed her as a more than able actress and was very well received in France, where French newspaper dubbed her the fucked up Marilyn of the 90's. However, Dangerous Game was considered much too nihilistic and violent, and was released straight to home video in North America. In an attempt to improve her acting credentials, Madonna chose to take roles in , first playing a singing telegram girl (again opposite Harvey Keitel) in 's (1995) and as a witch in (1995). She also had a cameo as phone sex company owner in 's film in 1996.
Madonna in her visit to Madrid. 1996.
In 1996, Madonna starred as in the film adaptation of the musical . The film marked the first time in America since her appearance in that Madonna was critically praised for her acting skills in a starring role, even though some critics compared the film to a long music video, which required no further acting skills of Madonna than what she had already exhibited in her own videos[]. Madonna had campaigned for the role for nearly ten years and in December 1994, she wrote a four page, handwritten letter to director explaining that she would be perfect to play the role. Parker agreed and to prepare for the film Madonna took voice lessons to extend her range and researched the life of her character. In January 1997, she won a for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, but failed to receive a nomination at the , though the song "" won the Oscar for Best Song. Both "You Must love Me" and "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" were hit singles.
Madonna's follow-up to Evita was yet another critically panned role as Abbie, a woman who decides to have a baby with her gay best friend, in the film (2000) directed by . Some critics however were kinder: French magazine Telerama pointed out that the script was much too weak, and neither she or the other two male leads, and could save the film or a director who's been running out of inspiration for some time already.[] followed in 2002, which was also critically panned. The film, a remake of an Italian film bearing the same name by in 1975, was the first big screen collaboration between Madonna and her husband . The film was mercilessly dished by everyone (It received seven nominations, winning five including Worst Actress for Madonna).
In 2002, Madonna composed and performed the theme song to the film "". She also had a cameo appearance in the film, playing a fencing instructor.
In late 2004, she provided the voice of Princess Selenia in the animated film , set for release in January 2007.
In March 2006, Madonna stated in an interview that she had given up acting because she fears her acting reputation will condemn any film she is a part of. She has also expressed her frustration with the process of filmmaking, with the comment "I've been unlucky with some of my films because it's difficult for me to be a brushstroke in someone else's painting."
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Documentaries
In 1991, Madonna released her first documentary (In Bed With Madonna outside the U.S.). The film, directed by Alek Keshishian, followed Madonna on her world tour in support of her successful 1989 album . The film featured black and white backstage scenes and live performances filmed in color. Truth or Dare was released in theatres worldwide, and became a box office hit, grossing more than $15 million in the U.S. alone.
Her second documentary, (2005), followed Madonna and her family on the in 2004. Directed by long-time collaborator , it premiered commercial free on in the on , . Like her previous effort, the film includes behind the scenes footage as well as live performances, and was released on DVD June 20, 2006 with a bonus audio CD.
Short films
In 2001, Madonna starred in 's short film : Star from the series The Hire as part of a BMW marketing campaign. The short film, directed by husband , featured Madonna as an arrogant rock star. Madonna starred opposite , , and .
Influences
Italian heritage, family and Catholicism
Madonna’s background as an Italian American Catholic has had great significance in her life and career. She has cited her parents and upbringing as the major influences in her life and career. Her mother's death profoundly affected her, and she later stated that had her mother lived she might not have felt such a strong need to prove herself. Madonna's father, Silvio Ciccone, more commonly referred to simply as "Tony", is a strict Italian Catholic who raised his family in an atmosphere of religious observance.
The name "Madonna" is very Catholic as it references , who in and in the is often referred to as "". Given Madonna's rebellion against Catholic-based ideals of womanhood, some have found it ironic that she shares the same name as the ultimate symbol of the Catholic ideal of womanhood. Early in her career, many assumed that "Madonna" was a that the singer had chosen for .
As a teenager, Madonna rebelled against what she considered an oppressive upbringing but later admitted that Catholicism had remained a central influence. She has said that her first "idols" were nuns, and that she found them "sexy" and wanted to be a nun because they were "really pure and serene".
Madonna also credits her father with instilling in her a strong work ethic, which she attributes to his Italian background, his family's working class history in , and his struggle to raise himself from poor origins. She has spoken admiringly of his efforts, noting that he is the only member of his family with a college education, and that his degree in engineering allowed him to move beyond the limitations of his upbringing. Madonna has also said that since becoming a mother, she has gained greater understanding and respect for her father as a parent.
As a teenager, lacking in self-esteem and rebelling against her Italian and Catholic background, Madonna was told by her ballet teacher and mentor, , "You have an ancient looking face. A face like an ancient statue." Madonna has stated that Flynn was the first person to tell her she is beautiful, and his approval inspired her to consider her Italian heritage, and her face, as something of value.
In her music career, Madonna’s Catholic background and relationship with her parents has been most strongly reflected in her Like a Prayer album. In “Like a Prayer,” Madonna moved away from the dance pop of her previous albums and toward more personal and reflective lyrics, featured songs directly related to her parents and her Catholic upbringing. The contained overt Catholic symbolism, such as the . "Promise To Try" told of her sadness at the faded memory of her mother and her struggle to recall her. "Oh, Father" told of a strict and distant father, who elicited fear in the singer as a child and defiance as she grew older. The video for depicts Madonna in a and her father kneeling and praying before a picture of his dead wife. The album ends with the track "Act of Contrition", which contains verses from the of the same name.
Madonna has used the Catholic symbol of the throughout her career, as a fashion accessory in her early videos, in the church setting of her "Like a Prayer" video, and in the stage design of her "Confessions" tour. The has also often been used in Madonna's career. In the early 1980s, she wore it around her neck as part of her performance costume. Later, in the music video for the song Madonna portrays a character who is praying the rosary.
Madonna's Italian heritage has occasionally been referenced in her work. The video to her first number one single, "," was filmed in , and features Madonna in iconic Venetian settings. The "" video ends with Madonna dancing into the sunset with a young boy, while her elderly boss chases after her, yelling at her in Italian. In the "" video, often described as partly autobiographical in content, her father is played by the Italian American actor, , and Madonna wears a shirt with the slogan, "Italians Do It Better". The video for her Who's That Girl? Tour, titled Ciao Italia: Madonna Live from Italy, was filmed mainly in . (In the Ciao Italia: Madonna Live from Italy video, Madonna performs the song while a large portrait of the Pope appears on the screen behind her. Coincidentally, "Papa" is the Italian word for "Pope" .) In her 2005 documentary I'm Going To Tell You a Secret, she jokingly states that she has "big, fat, Italian thighs." In film, she achieved a rare good reviews for her portrayal of the Italian American character "Mae Mordabato" in A League of Their Own.
Much of her career has been founded on a rebellion against the . As a result, Madonna has often offended many Catholics, including the head of the Catholic Church himself. In 1990, when Madonna toured Italy with the concert tour, the encouraged citizens not to attend the concert , and as a result, Madonna was forced to cancel two shows due to poor ticket sales. The Pope accused Madonna of against the Catholic Church (a crime in Italy), and attempted to have Madonna banned from stepping foot on Italian soil. In response, in a 1990 press conference in Italy, Madonna declared, "I am and proud of it." In an interview with magazine, Madonna said that the Pope's reaction hurt, "because I'm Italian, you know", but in another Rolling Stone interview the same year stated that she had ceased to practice Catholicism because the Church "completely frowns on sex... except for procreation". In the summer of 2006, Madonna drew criticism from Vatican officials when she took her Confessions Tour to Rome. Vatican officials claimed that Madonna's performance while hanging off of a cross while wearing a crown of thorns was an open attack on Catholicism and should not be performed in the same city as the pope's residence. In the documentary Italians in America - Our Contribution, author relates Madonna's rebellion against the Catholic Church to her Italian ancestry. Talese claims that Madonna is descended from a region of with a long tradition of rebellion against the Catholic Church .
In 1988, city officials in the town of Pacentro, Italy , planned to construct a 13-foot statue of Madonna in a . The statue was intended to commemorate the fact that some of Madonna's ancestors had lived in Pacentro. The mayor of the city and the Pope intervened and prevented the project from coming to fruition, citing concerns that a statue of Madonna in their city would corrupt the morals of their youth.
Musical styles and singers
In 1985, Madonna commented that the first song to ever make a strong impression on her was "" by and that it summed up her take-charge attitude. As a young woman, she attempted to broaden her taste in literature, art and music and during this time became interested in classical music. She noted that her favorite style was , and loved because she liked his "feminine quality". Her favorite vocalists were , , and , and she also expressed admiration for , and . For their ability as performers and for their style and impact, she cited of and of as artists who strongly inspired her.
Film stars
During her childhood, Madonna became fascinated by films and film stars, later saying, "I loved and and . They were all incredibly funny...and I saw myself in them...my girlishness, my knowingness and my innocence". Her "Material Girl" music video recreated Monroe's "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" number from the film , and she later studied the screwball comedies of the 1930s, particularly those of Lombard, in preparation for the Who's That Girl? film. The video for "Express Yourself" placed a femme fatale character alongside an androgynous figure in male attire, which was compared to . The video for "Vogue" recreated the style of Hollywood glamour photographers, in particular , and imitated the poses of Marlene Dietrich, Carole Lombard and , while the lyrics referenced many of the stars who had inspired her. Among those mentioned was , described by Madonna in a Rolling Stone interview as an idol, along with and In The Erotica Video.
Personal life
Relationships and family
In late 1970's and early 1980's Madonna had relationship with Dan Gilroy who formed "" with her. During the first half of the Eighties, Madonna also dated musician , painter and graffiti artist , DJ and record producer , Norris Burroughs (who appears in "" video) and musician .
While filming the for her single "" in 1985, Madonna began dating . The two were married later that year on Madonna's twenty-seventh birthday; the marriage lasted less than four years, reportedly caused by Penn's aggressive behavior and Madonna's secret relationship with . Of her marriage to Penn, Madonna told , "I was completely obsessed with my career and not ready to be generous in any shape or form."
After the divorce from Penn was made official in 1989, Madonna began a relationship with , whom she had met on the set of the film . She dated briefly in late 1990. In 1990-1991 she dated Tony Ward, a young model and porn star, who had previously starred in her music video for "" (1989) and "" (1990). In 1991-1992, she had a relationship with for 8 months; who appeared later in her erotic book Sex. In 1992-1993, she dated actor John Enos and her bodyguard Jim Albright. She also had a relationship with for 4 months, in 1994.
While walking in Madonna met , who became her personal trainer and lover. On , she gave birth to the couple’s child, a daughter, Lourdes Maria (Lola) Ciccone Leon. Madonna and Leon ended their relationship in 1997.
In late 1990's, she had relationship with English actor and filmmaker Andy Bird and she briefly dated .
On , , Madonna married director , whom she had met in 1999 through mutual friends and his wife . Madonna gave birth to a son, Rocco Ritchie, on , . She currently resides in an English estate in , with Ritchie and her children. Madonna, who refers to herself simply as "Mrs. Ritchie" on her personal letterhead, has undergone a transformation from Material Girl to family woman, as she told '"Tatler": "I don't need to drive around in flashy cars and I don't need to show off. I'm perfectly happy to go for walks every day for a month at my house in the countryside. That doesn't mean I can't have expensive tastes, like nice sheets on my bed, or enjoy architecture and pictures. But I do know what makes a healthy balance in life...a good marriage is a contest of generosity...Everyone needs to be stopped in their tracks by parenthood and marriage, otherwise you are just selfish satellites spinning in space."
According to various sources Madonna is also rumored to have had an affair with G Patrick Polli prior to her marriage with Guy Ritchie.

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