Today in Madonna History

Ten years ago this Christmas week, Evita grossed $334,400 in limited release.

Based on the Tony Award-winning Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of the same name, the film was a long time in the making.

Madonna would later win a Golden Globe for Best Actress, Comedy or Musical, for the titular role, a part She famously lobbied for for years, reportedly including an audition tape sent to director Alan Parker in the form of Her period-appropriate Take a Bow video.

Once cast opposite her Truth or Dare crush Antonio Banderas, Madonna and the film's creators had to convince the court of public opinion - especially the doubtful, protective Argentinean people - that She was suited to portray Eva Peron. To perfect the transformation into the Argentinean dictator's wife, Madonna installed a "flip" to bridge the trademark gap in Her front teeth and cloaked Her light eyes with dark brown contact lenses.

During production of the film, Madonna revealed that She was pregnant with Her first child. She gave birth to Lourdes ("Lola") Maria Ciccone Leon on October 14, 1996.

Nominated for five Academy Awards, the film captured just one: fittingly, Best Original Song. At the Oscar ceremony on March 24, 1997, Madonna attended not as a nominee but as a performer. Her rendition of You Must Love Me remains a fan favorite, perhaps due to Madge's appearance at the Oscars despite a perceived Academy snub for Her acting.

Evita grossed just over $50 million.