She turned 27 that summer --the same day she married Sean Penn (August 16th). This photo (adorning wee Nathaniel's wall, poster-sized, much to his mother's dismay) was taken by legendary celebrity photographer Herb Ritts (1952-2002) and was one of the earliest of many iconic images he would take of his friend. They'd later return to sand and water (Malibu the next time) for the immortal Cherish video in 1989.
time capsule: Madonna's career had just gone supernova the previous year with the release of Like A Virgin in November. In 1985, Madonna was headlining the first of several classic concert tours "The Virgin Tour" and had just enjoyed her first starring role in a legit movie, Desperately Seeking Susan for which she won many good notices in the spring. That early Desperate film success was not an indicator of things to come. Movie critics were rarely kind again though she'd keep trying for another 17 years, finally throwing in the towel after Guy Ritchie's Swept Away (2002).
Other celebs making film debuts in '85: Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (both ended up Oscar nominated), River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke as the young stars of Explorers, Josh Brolin in The Goonies and Viggo Mortensen (just two months younger than Madge) as a young gentle Amish men in Peter Weir's Witness. Good year.
Were you alive in the summer of 1985? If so, movie memories please...
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