Every iconic movie role Madonna would have ruined if she played it herself
She might be one of the most iconic figures in music, but has Madonna ever played an iconic role in a movie? In fact, has she ever been in a movie that can deservedly be called iconic? It’s debatable, but had the dominoes fallen differently, the ‘Queen of Pop’ could have notched more than a few.
Being declared as the worst actor in the history of cinema by science itself is no mean feat, but that doesn’t mean Madge’s filmography is all misses and no hits. She more than held for own in Evita, playing a role that was initially earmarked for Meryl Streep, winning a Golden Globe for her troubles.
It’s unquestionably the best work she’s ever done in film, even if Patti LuPone would vehemently disagree. For the most part, the rest is shit, and the sheer volume of Razzie wins and nominations that Madonna has notched over the years for most of the things she’s been in is proof enough that she didn’t stand a chance of being remembered as one of the best singers-turned-actors there’s ever been.
That’s not to say an eye-catching part in a memorable, acclaimed, or award-winning flick would have turned her reputation around, because a crap actor is a crap actor, no matter how you cut it. However, the musician would have at least had a couple more hits under her belt, and potentially even kept the Razzies at arm’s length for at least a brief respite from being ranked among the worst of the worst.
By far, the two most iconic roles that Madonna missed out on are Batman Returns‘ Catwoman and The Matrix‘s Trinity, brought to memorable life by Michelle Pfeiffer and Carrie-Anne Moss, respectively. She confessed that “I regret that I turned down” when talking about the former, while in the case of the latter, she rued that she said no to “one of the best movies ever made.”
Beyond that, it was announced in June 1997 that she’d play Velma Kelly in the big-screen adaptation of Chicago, and five years later, Catherine Zeta-Jones claimed an Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for playing the same part. Several years previously, Madonna had announced her intention to star in a movie about the life of Frida Kahlo, the artist whose work she admired hugely.
Fast forward more than a decade, and the much more capable and better-suited Salma Hayek landed on the ‘Best Actress’ shortlist for her passion project, Frida, which she produced and persevered with for the better part of a decade. There were even whispers that she was under consideration when James Cameron’s Titanic was searching for its Rose DeWitt Bukater, which makes no sense whatsoever.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Madonna also revealed that “it was between me and Sharon Stone” to be cast as Ginger McKenna in Martin Scorsese’s Casino, in what proved to be another Oscar-nominated role. Would she have given a superior performance than any of those actors if she’d gotten the nod instead? Almost definitely not, and while it can’t be ruled out, you could also say many bullets were dodged.
That’s one Oscar-winning and two Oscar-nominated characters, plus two pop culture icons, all of which could have been played by Madonna, and also Titanic if you believe the scuttlebutt. Mercifully, cinema was spared, because there’s no chance she’s got the chops to do any better than the chosen stars.
Every iconic role Madonna almost ruined by playing it:
- Catwoman (Batman Returns)
- Trinity (The Matrix)
- Velma Kelly (Chicago)
- Frida Kahlo (Frida)
- Ginger McKenna (Casino)
