10 Movie Performances Way Better Than They Had Any Right To Be

5. Madonna - Evita

Why It Shouldn't Have Worked

Madonna is mostly the same as the majority of major pop stars who have tried their hand at acting: not as good at it as they are at singing. Sure, she'd been okay in the likes of Desperately Seeking Susan and A League Of Their Own, but she hadn't exactly pulled up any trees in Hollywood.

And the idea of her playing Argentine first-lady Eva Peron - advocate for the poor and workers' rights - without so much as a breakout serious role behind her was just plain baffling. It was surely better suited to some sort of Oscar veteran...?

But Then...

Even when the material was a little lacking, Madonna is actually very good as Peron - and not just in the musical numbers - and justifiably won a Golden Globe for the performance. Sadly, it didn't really last, but that just makes how good she is here even more surprising.