Desperately Seeking Susan

Of course, Madonna cannot be left out of a film series about divas. Just before her big breakthrough, she played an iconic role in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), about a housewife who is mistaken for the mysterious, extrovert Susan.

Madonna is of course a must in a film series about divas! Just before her big breakthrough she played the extrovert Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). Susan Seidelman's sparkling comedy offers a delightful insight into the vibrant fashion, music and art world of New York and is rightly regarded as a cultural icon of the '80s.

The story follows Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette), a bored housewife looking for a way to escape her mundane existence. Fascinated by the personals ads in the newspaper, she comes across a series of messages from a man desperately seeking a woman named Susan (Madonna). Each message begins with the words "Desperately Seeking Susan," and Roberta is so captivated by the mystery that she decides to meet the man, leading to a series of comical twists and identity swaps.

One of the most iconic moments in the film is undoubtedly the dance scene to Madonna's hit "Into the Groove." The song became an anthem for the film and underscored Madonna's rise as a global pop diva, further cementing her status as a cultural superstar. With Madonna's irresistible charisma and image as an independent woman, Desperately Seeking Susan has become a timeless classic that should not be missing from any series celebrating divas.