1. Breakthrough hit Holiday

1983: After making a name for herself in the clubs of New York, Madonna secured a record deal and released her self-titled debut album. Although it took a whole year for the album to reach the US top ten, the dancefloor classic Holiday was a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

2. Madonna-mania with Like A Virgin

1984: Madonna proved she wasn't a one hit wonder with the release of follow up album Like a Virgin which sold 12 million copies worldwide. Both the album and title song made it to number one in the US charts, while Material Girl was also a big hit.

Times Archive, 1985: Madonna's flirt rock phenomenon comes under fire

American feminists accuse the brazen 26-year-old superstar of setting the cause of women back years

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• Madonna: Like a Virgin

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3. On-screen debut in Crazy For You

1985: Madonna played a club singer in coming of age movie Vision Quest with Matthew Modine. The film was re-released outside the US as Crazy for You following the success of Madonna’s title song.

4. Film stardom in Desperately Seeking Susan

1985: Although Rosanna Arquette was the star of 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan, Madonna stole the show as gutsy New York drifter Susan, one of her most memorable screen roles. The film features Into the Groove, still one of her all-time club classics, and a dance sequence shot at Danceteria, the club that helped launch her career.

5. First marriage, to Sean Penn

1985: After a passionate romance with actor Sean Penn, the pair married at the home of millionaire developer Kurt Unger. The ceremony was drowned out by the din of helicopters overhead as journalists attempted to capture it on film. The marriage was shortlived and after a number of separations, the couple finally divorced in September 1989.

6. Playboy nude photo scandal

1985: In the late 70s, young and unknown, Madonna posed for a series of nude black and white photographs. When they made their way onto the pages of Playboy and Penthouse in 1985, the Queen of Pop showed an uncharacteristic shyness, attempting, and failing, to block publication.

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