4 SEPTEMBER 2002
Madonna has spent nearly the last two decades shocking the world since she forged her way into pop history provocatively crooning Like A Virgin. But now it seems the star who had her racy Blonde Ambition tour branded “one of the most satanic shows in the history of humanity” by the Vatican has turned over a new leaf aged 44.

In an interview in the October issue of Vanity Fair, the woman behind the book Sex says she’s now focused on writing spiritual children’s literature alongside her husband Guy Ritchie. And the rebellious singer, whose documentary In Bed With Madonna forever immortalised her diva-like tendencies, now admits that motherhood has made her regret her past behaviour.

“I had no kids, so it was a very me-me-me universe,” confesses the mum-of-two. “I was a lot more selfish. Not thinking before I spoke, before I acted. I was going through life robotically, even though I thought I was a badass motherfu***ing rebel, outside-of-it-all person… I didn’t think of the big picture. My life was very small picture.”

Though the explicit scenes in her 1993 film Body Of Evidence had to be cut before the film was shown in US cinemas, and her Erotica video was banned outright from MTV, the Evita star is a lot more discreet these days. Fans will see a lot less of Madonna’s famous bod in her latest film, Swept Away, directed by husband Guy Ritchie.

“It didn’t seem there was any point to us rolling around making out and staying naked in the movie,” explains Madonna. “I didn’t mind it, but Guy didn’t want to do it, to tell you the truth. And I’m not particularly fond of kissing strange men – contrary to popular belief.”