Madonna stars as Eva Perón in "Evita," a role later earning her a Golden Globe and a Guinness record for costume changes.
On December 25, 1996, the film adaptation of the musical Evita opened in United States theaters, starring Madonna in the title role of Argentine political icon Eva Perón. Directed by Alan Parker, the production was a long-cherished passion project for Madonna, who reportedly lobbied intensely for the role over several years, even writing directly to director Parker to secure the casting.
Madonna's performance required extensive vocal training to meet the demands of Andrew Lloyd Webber's operatic score, and she famously recorded many of her vocals while pregnant with her first child, Lourdes. The physically and emotionally demanding role saw her undergo a Guinness World Records–recognized 85 costume changes throughout the film, the most for any character in film history at that time.
Critics widely praised her performance as a career-redefining dramatic achievement, marking a significant departure from her pop persona and demonstrating substantial range as an actress. The film's soundtrack, featuring the song 'You Must Love Me' (written specifically for the film), further cemented the project's critical and commercial success.
Evita represented a pivotal moment in Madonna's career, proving her capacity for serious dramatic and vocal work beyond pop music and earning her the most significant acting accolade of her career.