Her talents transcend time and have left an indelible mark on the Lebanese and Arab cultural scene. The iconic artist Lady Madonna celebrates her 50th anniversary in entertainment with a candid look at her remarkable journey.
Dress, Jean Louis Sabaji; headpiece, Vishnu. Photo: Nima Benati
Glamorous as ever with her iconic blonde hair, the queen of performing arts Lady Madonna emerges from her room in her Beirut apartment adorned with her signature feather boas and bows. Beautiful, vivacious, and radiant, now at 62 (and not shy to admit it), she proudly exclaims, “No botox at all, au naturel!”
Known for her spontaneity, humility, and daring personality, Lady Madonna is an icon. At home in Beirut, she reflects on the moment she knew she would be a star. The year was 1971 and at age 11, she was receiving a medal of merit presented to her by then-president Suleiman Frangieh, after her major role in the play Al-Tarshan Neighbourhood written specifically for her. “From that moment, I was assured – I was destined to be an artist and I must fulfill my legacy,” she recalls.
Madonna Antoine Arnita was born in Beirut in a creative and artistic household. “I was raised in a home full of love with an elegant and beautiful mother, a loving dad, a sister, and two brothers. My uncle Salvador Arnita was an internationally acclaimed composer and director of the music department of the American University of Beirut; meanwhile, my uncle Fernando Salvador was a celebrated and awarded painter, singer, and actor. I was surrounded with quality music and my family encouraged me to embrace it,” she adds.
Cape, Azzi & Osta; earrings, stylist’s own. Photo: Nima Benati
At Madonna’s home, “music was loud” and “every morning we would wake up to Fairuz’s songs blaring from dad’s radio and we would go to bed to Fairuz’s tunes. Since childhood, my ear has been nourished with fine musical art,” she shares. Her family encouraged her to join the National…
