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There's no denying Madonna is the mother
of reinvention. The Michigan-born icon is one of the few
people to have remained a mover and shaker on the pop scene in
the course of a career that has spanned three decades. While
the diva's propensity to shock has lessened, she still has the
capacity to surprise the world. |
Born on August 16, 1958, the third
of eight children, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone lost her
mother to breast cancer when she was just six years old. "I
became an over-achiever to get approval from the world," she
explained later. "I didn't have a mother, so I needed the
whole world around me instead."
She left the
University of Michigan, where she was studying dance, after
three terms and hot-footed it to New York with just $35 in her
pocket. Becoming a regular on the club scene and developing
her own vocal talents, she soon signed a record deal. Success
came in 1984 with Holiday and Like A Virgin
and, thanks to the latter's provocative video and the growing
influence of MTV, she was soon a global player in the pop
world.
For almost a decade Madonna set out to shock
and provoke, leading the Vatican to describe her Blonde
Ambition tour as "one of the most satanic shows in the history
of humanity". A series of bad film choices, including the
risible Body Of Evidence, foiled her efforts to make it
in the movie world. Her book Sex, was published in
1992, featuring Madonna and a whole raft of celebrities in the
buff. But the luke-warm reception it received prompted her to
have a rethink, keeping a low profile – well, as low a profile
as you can have when you're Madge – until she triumphed with
her Golden Globe-winning performance as Eva Peron in the film
version of Evita.
During filming in Argentina,
Madonna discovered she was pregnant by her boyfriend, personal
trainer Carlos Leon. Lourdes was born in October 1996,
inspiring the album Ray Of Light, which won a Grammy
award. "My daughter's birth was like a rebirth for me," she
said. "As a mother, I feel like I'm starting my life all over
in some ways. Everything happens for a reason and I've been
really blessed."
The singer had married actor Sean
Penn in 1985, but the two divorced four years later.
Madonna had always said she would never marry again – but she
hadn't met British film director Guy
Ritchie. "My head spun round on my body," she said of
their first meeting. "Not many people stop you in your
tracks." After their son Rocco was born in August 2000, the
two married in a romantic wedding at Skibo Castle in Scotland
in December of the same year, and now spend their time between
London and the States.
While Madonna's 2002 outing in
Guy's third film Swept Away garnered less than
favourable reviews, her first children's book broke publishing
records. Entitled The English Roses and based on
esoteric Jewish teachings of the Kaballah it was translated
into 30 languages and released in 100 countries when published
in 2003. The mother-of-two explained the lesson of the kid's
book, saying: "It is a story about learning to appreciate what
we have ourselves and not to be fixated on what other people
have."
The following year was as busy as ever for the
Material girl who kicked it off by announcing she would make a
dramatic return to touring, with her Re-Invention gigs.
As the three-month-long tour concluded her fans were left with
little doubt that their icon still reigns as the Queen of Pop.
Music aside, Madonna's religious convictions continued
to dominate the headlines. First she changed her name to
Esther, then she announced her support – to the tune of £12
million - of a school to enlighten youngsters about the Jewish
teachings. Later that year she embarked on a week-long
pilgrimage to Israel, capping off her stay with a guest
appearance at a Kabbalah conference.
Being inducted
into the UK Music Hall of Fame along side such musical
luminaries as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Michael
Jackson and Elvis meant 2004 closed on a high for the pop
star. "It's not just another award," she said. "I think I'm in
very good company - I'm honoured to be part of this group."
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