Madonna on Acting: "It's Not an Easy Business"
British outlet Far Out Magazine published a piece on September 23, 2026 revisiting Madonna's decades-long film career — a track record that started strong but rarely stayed there. The article leans on comments Madonna made in a 1994 interview with Q Magazine about why she kept chasing acting roles despite the reviews.
From Desperately Seeking Susan to the Razzies
According to Far Out Magazine, Madonna's screen career opened well: 1985's Desperately Seeking Susan is still regarded as one of the defining films of its decade. What followed was rockier. Shanghai Surprise and Who's That Girl struggled with both critics and box office. She found some solid ground later with A League of Their Own and Evita, but Body of Evidence, The Next Best Thing and Swept Away were savaged by reviewers.
The article notes she has racked up numerous Golden Raspberry Award nominations and wins over the years, ranking among the most-awarded stars in the ceremony's history.
Asked why she kept at it, Madonna told Q Magazine in 1994: "if I want to do something, I do it." She described film as a great art form, saying that once she started making music videos and writing narrative stories, it felt natural to think, "why not just make a movie." But she added: "it's not an easy business."
"Fame Is Baggage": Madonna's Own Explanation
In the same interview, Madonna attributed part of her mixed reception as an actress to her own fame. She said she carries a lot of baggage, making it hard for audiences to separate her from the persona built up by the media when watching her on screen.
She pointed to Body of Evidence as an example, noting its release coincided closely with her photo book Sex, which led many viewers to see the film as Madonna herself rather than a character. She said her added challenge was finding roles that could rise above all of that.
Far Out Magazine argues that beyond fame, pop stardom simply doesn't equate to acting skill — one reason her screen reputation has never caught up with her music career.