Rosanna Arquette recalls not being invited to iconic Madonna film premiere

Rosanna Arquette recently reflected on a surprising moment from her breakout film Desperately Seeking Susan.

During a February 10 appearance on Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen Live, the 66-year-old actress revealed that she was not invited to the Hollywood premiere of the 1985 comedy, which starred Madonna and became a cultural touchstone of the era.

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

In the film, Arquette played Roberta, a bored New Jersey housewife who becomes fascinated with the free-spirited Susan, portrayed by Madonna, leading to a whirlwind case of mistaken identity across New York City. As Madonna’s fame skyrocketed, marketing increasingly centered on her, leaving Arquette on the sidelines.

Arquette recalled being in New York at the time, handling press duties, only to realize she had been excluded from the premiere. “I was here in New York doing this. Like, press... And so I was like, ‘what?’ 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].”

Despite the awkward moment, Arquette’s performance earned critical acclaim, including a British Academy Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Today, decades later, Arquette has shifted her focus toward personal growth and renewal. 

After a period marked by a divorce and a move to the East Coast, she described the experience as liberating. “It almost feels like I was released from prison. I’m alone but not lonely,” she told People exclusively.

In January 2026, Arquette returned to the screen in a new way, starring in Charli xcx’s mockumentary The Moment, inspired in part by 1984’s This Is Spinal Tap. “Charli wrote me the loveliest letter telling me she was a fan and it would mean the world to her if I came and played this part,” Arquette said. “I told my daughter, and she was like, ‘Oh my God!’ It definitely got me some cool points with her.”