’80s Movie Star Wasn’t Invited to Her Breakout 1985 Film Premiere — Here’s Why

Rosanna Arquette revealed that she wasn’t invited to the Hollywood premiere of her breakout film 40 years ago. During a Feb. 10 appearance on Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen Live, the actress explained the “weird” situation regarding the opening night for her 1985 movie Desperately Seeking Susan.

The Susan Seidelman-directed film starred Arquette as bored New Jersey housewife Roberta Glass, and Madonna as free-spirited drifter Susan. The film was released in April 1985, months after Madonna’s hit album Like a Virgin dropped, and it featured the soundtrack song “Into the Groove.”  The movie also marked Madonna’s acting debut.

“While [Madonna] became so huge, they decided to make the movie around her. Which of course, made sense to make money, right?” Arquette, 66, told podcast host Andy Cohen. “But, they didn’t invite me to the Hollywood premiere of Desperately Seeking Susan.”

“I was here in New York doing this. Like, press. …And so I was like ‘what?’” the actress recalled. “That was weird… It was very strange. But then you find out why that happened, the management  …they made a thing about it because it ended up being [her movie]. But  that’s okay, I won a British Academy [Film] Award.”

Madonna was ‘the biggest thing in the world’ at the time

Arquette previously downplayed any drama between her and Madonna, telling The Daily Beast in 2021 that while she hadn’t spoken to the singer in years, she followed her on social media.

“I wish her well,” she said, adding that the release of the movie “coincided with the exploooosion, volcano, eruption of Madonna.”

“She suddenly was the biggest thing in the world, and then the movie came out,” Arquette said. “It happened to the point where they had a big premiere in L.A. for the movie, and they decided to have me do press in L.A. and not come to the premiere.  …I didn’t understand the politics of how things are and thought, ‘Well, this is s—ty.” But it was all marketing. They thought they could make more money if they focused on Madonna at the time.”

Arquette would love to see a ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ sequel

Arquette has expressed interest in filming a Desperately Seeking Susan sequel. In 2024, she was a guest on the Girls on Film podcast, where she admitted she had long wondered what became of Roberta, Susan, and Roberta’s lover, Dez (Aidan Quinn).

“I always had a fantasy about what happened to them?” Arquette said of the movie’s characters. “Who are they now?  It would be so great to make that movie. And see where everybody ends up. Do Dez and her stay together? What happens to them?” 

🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬