MIAMI, FLORIDA | NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Veteran actor John Turturro has revisited an unexpected moment from his early career, recalling how a screen test with Madonna for the 1985 comedy Desperately Seeking Susan took an unexpectedly intimate turn when the pop star kissed him during an audition scene.

Turturro, 69, shared the story on November 2 during a career-spanning conversation with Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh at the Miami Film Festival GEMS event, where he received the Variety Creative Vanguard Award. The discussion covered his work across film, television and theatre, as well as his latest movie, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.

Recounting the audition, Turturro said he had been reading for the role of Susan’s boyfriend. The scene required him to kiss Madonna, who was then emerging as one of pop music’s most recognisable new stars.

“We had, like, a kissing scene and she really kissed me! I mean, deeply, you know what I mean?” he recalled, prompting laughter from the audience. He said the unexpected intensity caught him off guard and caused him to drop his audition pages to the floor. “I didn’t know it was this kind of movie!” he joked.

THE AUDITION THAT DID NOT LEAD TO THE ROLE

Despite the memorable chemistry of the audition, Turturro did not land the part of Susan’s boyfriend. The role ultimately went to actor Robert Joy. Turturro nevertheless became part of the film, appearing as Ray, a club manager in the story.

Released in 1985, Desperately Seeking Susan starred Rosanna Arquette as Roberta, a bored New Jersey housewife whose fascination with a series of personal advertisements draws her into the life of Susan, a free-spirited woman played by Madonna. The film became an important early screen role for Madonna and remains closely associated with the style and pop culture of the decade.

Turturro’s account offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the casting process and the unusual encounters that can occur when actors are asked to establish on-screen intimacy with someone they have only just met.

A FRIENDSHIP, BUT NO ROMANCE

The actor also recalled that he and Madonna became friendly after the audition. He suggested that she remained intrigued by him for a period, but indicated that he preferred to keep their relationship on a platonic footing.

Reflecting on the dynamic, Turturro said some people want to “absorb” those around them, adding that he did not want to be absorbed. His comments were delivered humorously as part of a wider recollection rather than as a claim of a lasting romantic relationship.

The timing also placed the story in an interesting personal context. Madonna married actor Sean Penn in 1985, the same year Turturro married actress Katherine Borowitz. Turturro and Borowitz have remained married, and he joked during the conversation that one wife was enough.

FROM A 1980s CULT FILM TO A DISTINGUISHED CAREER

Although Turturro did not secure the role he originally auditioned for, his appearance in Desperately Seeking Susan became one entry in an extensive career that has included more than 120 acting credits.

He later became widely recognised for performances in films including Do the Right Thing, Barton Fink, Miller’s Crossing, The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. His television work has also brought him significant attention, including roles in The Night Of and Severance.

The Variety Creative Vanguard Award recognised Turturro’s work across more than four decades. The Miami Film Festival GEMS conversation gave audiences an opportunity to hear him reflect not only on celebrated performances, but also on the unpredictable experiences that helped shape his journey through the entertainment industry.

WHY THE STORY STILL RESONATES

More than 40 years after the audition, the anecdote continues to attract attention because it connects two influential figures from different corners of 1980s popular culture: an emerging pop superstar making her mark in cinema and an actor who would go on to build a distinctive career across independent films, major studio productions and television.

It also illustrates how a brief moment in a casting room can remain vivid long after the production itself has become part of film history. Turturro’s recollection is less about a role he missed than about an unexpected encounter that stayed with him through decades of work.

For fans of Madonna and Desperately Seeking Susan, the story adds another colourful detail to the making of the 1985 comedy. For Turturro, it is one more memorable episode in a career filled with characters, collaborations and experiences that continue to interest audiences.