Madonna described that, in the fame game, two personas become the attention of the media; one that the public are exposed to on a regular basis, which creates most perceptions of the stars, and then the one that is found behind closed doors. Media is able to manipulate the public’s ideas of a celebrity with the click of a camera or the tap of keys on a keyboard and, as we all know, Madonna is no stranger to this kind of attention.

Madonna in Dolce&Gabbana

She has always been provocative and instigated many of the occasions that have sparked media interest but, of late, her public persona has become more accessible without using strong elements of shock. To communicate a message, an element of shock is practically mandatory these days to stand out amongst the rest and Madonna is a trailblazer of how successfully this tactic can be used. But, obviously, sometimes media can change the way in which these messages are seen and received. 

During the interview she discusses how public and private personas are hard to maintain and keep separated and the pangs felt every time something is written that is basically either warped truth or just lies. This thought was connected to Wallis Simpson for during the abdication and the continuation of their relationship, Wallis became a target and the public were subjected to stories that distorted the woman behind the name. Madonna wanted to portray Wallis Simpson as a woman who was vulnerable, with weak points but also someone who displayed great strength in a situation where she was a victim of circumstance.

The interview concludes with Will asking why she is exploring film and Madonna answers, highlighting a common known fact, “I like to challenge myself”. For more from this interview and other topics, click below:

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Credits - BBC