Madonna regrets turning down this major movie role
She has been offered several movie roles over the years
Last updated 27th Jan 2022
Madonna is known world-wide as a music icon; with hits like 'Vogue' and 'Like a Prayer' she has made a name for herself in her 40-year-long music career. But what you might not know is that she has been offered several film roles over the years.
In an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Madonna revealed that she had been approached to play a part in Batman Returns as Catwoman, and was also offered a part in Showgirls.
The singer said: "I regret that I turned down Catwoman, that was pretty fierce. Showgirls, no."
But potentially the biggest role she turned down was for The Matrix. At the time, the singer said no the role, but now knowing how successful the film went on to be, she regrets the decision.
She described The Matrix as "one of the best movies ever made" and told Jimmy: "A teeny, tiny part of me regrets that one moment in my life".
The Matrix went on to win numerous awards including a BAFTA Award for 'Best Special Visual Effects'. The franchise will continue with a fourth film called 'Matrix Resurrections' which is due to be released on 24th December 2021 in the UK.
Scroll through some of Madonna's career highlights:
1985
Madonna is pictured here performing on 'The Virgin Tour', her debut concert tour that she took through the US and Canada. Madonna worked with designer Maripol for her fashion through the 80s, including for the tour.
1985
Madonna performed at Live Aid, taking to the stage in Philadelphia to perform 'Into The Groove' and 'Holiday' in a multi-layered outfit.
1987
She channelled her inner Marilyn Monroe for the 'Who's That Girl World Tour', performing in the US and Canada, Japan, the UK and Europe.
1990
Madonna debuted her iconic pointy bra corset on the 'Blonde Ambition World Tour'. Designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, Madonna made a statement with the item during the song 'Express Yourself'.
1993
Madonna went for a close pixie crop hairdo on her 'Girlie Show' tour, and the fashion for this tour was designed by Dolce & Gabbana with instructions from Madonna herself to look at films My Fair Lady and Cabaret for inspiration.
1998
Madonna favoured a more natural, stripped back look to promote her seventh album, 'Ray Of Light'. The music video saw her wear a denim jacket with trousers featuring a glittered belt, as clips of her singing the song were interspersed between sped up scenes from around the world. It won a GRAMMY Award as well as five MTV VMAs.
2001
She opted for a sleeker look at the film premiere for Mean Machine with her then-husband Guy Ritchie, sporting the poker-straight, feathered hairdo that's become synonymous with the early noughties.
2004
She was back to curly blonde locks for the 'Reinvention World Tour', working with designers Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld among others to create the on-stage looks, including this bejewelled corset.
2008
Emulating Guns 'N Roses bassist Slash, Madonna looked fierce in black with a top hat on her 'Sticky & Sweet Tour', on which she worked once again with Stella McCartney among others.
2012
Madonna gave the cheerleading performance of her life on the 'MDNA Tour'. Working once again with Jean Paul Gaultier, the performance was split into four themes: Transgression, Prophecy, Masculine/Feminine and Redemption and, according to Madonna, showed "the journey of a soul from darkness to light".
2013
She chose a blunt black wig for the Punk-themed Met Gala, wearing an outfit by Givenchy.
2015
Madonna caught everyone's eye with her Matador performance at The BRIT Awards - and despite a blunder with the cape, she still delivered an incredible show.
2017
Once again, Madonna turned heads at the Met Gala with a camo gown by Moschino. She told Entertainment Tonight: "We knew we wanted to go with camouflage from the very start. We started with the flak jacket, and then we worked our way down. So, you know, we're ready. We're ready to go to fashion war. It's going to be a fun night."
2019
Madonna sported an eye patch for her performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, using this era to perform as her alter ego Madame X who she saw as a "spy" or "secret agent".
2022
Madonna channelled her 80s looks for this outfit in 2022, which she wore to a roller disco event at DiscoOasis at Wolman Rink in Central Park, New York.
2024
Madonna took to the stage at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro during her 'The Celebration Tour', wearing an eye-catching and colourful corset dress and long gloves made up of the colours of Brazil's flag. Designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, it's certainly reminiscent of his cone bra corset from all those years ago.
2026
Madonna was brought out as a guest at Coachella 2026 by headliner Sabrina Carpenter, as the pair performed her songs 'Vogue' and 'Like A Prayer', with her lilac ensemble reported to be pulled from her "personal archives".
With 14 studio albums, the singer has spent a fair amount of time in front of the camera in her music videos, but she has yet to have her moment on the big screen. However, the 'Hung Up' singer did go on to reveal that she has been approached to have a movie made about her by several different producers, but she never felt like they were the right fit.
"Other people have tried to write movies about me" she told Jimmy. When talking about getting a copy of the script she said: "I read it and it was the most hideous, superficial c--p I ever had read".
This led the Madonna to take control and make a film herself. She described it as a "visual auto-biography" and confirmed it was in the making.
Watch the full interview:
We can't wait to see what Madonna comes out with!
Now Read:
17 of Madonna's most iconic looks through the years
Kylie Minogue releases new single 'A Second To Midnight' with Years & Years
Timothée Chalamet teases first-look photos of upcoming Willy Wonka prequel movie 🍫