Newly unearthed documents from the British Film Institute's archives show that Madonna, then a global superstar, joined the crew of the 1996 film Evita in protesting a directive requiring them to pay half of their laundry bills. The petition, signed by Madonna and found among the private papers of director Sir Alan Parker, voiced the unit's collective disapproval of the new cost-sharing policy.
The crew had recently finished filming in Argentina and were reportedly furious when told that laundry costs would be split 50/50 upon resuming production in Hungary. The petition stated, "The unit are unanimous in their disapproval of this and wish the company to pay for the laundry. As has been the case in Buenos Aires."
Mentioned in the documents is the fact that Madonna, who starred as Eva Perón, was approximately 67 years old at the time of the article's publication in 2026 and had been a major international star for over a decade, with hits like "Like a Virgin" and "Papa Don't Preach." Her signature on the petition, dated March 13, 1996, suggests she signed in solidarity with the crew, despite her significant financial standing.
The petition was discovered when a copy was placed under a producer's door, with an internal memo noting, "For your info – found under Wimbury’s door last night! Signed by Madonna!" The signing occurred shortly after Madonna filmed the significant "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" scene at the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires.
Director Sir Alan Parker had expressed frustration over budget pressures during the film's production, noting in a letter to a producer that these difficulties were impacting cast and crew morale. He wrote, "Our budget difficulties have to be addressed and I have spoken to every member of the crew. We are all doing what we can without sacrificing the continual quality of the film we see every day in the dailies and without nagging and sucking the life out of an exhausted but exhilarated and remarkable group of people."
Despite the on-set financial concerns, Evita became a box office success upon its release in December 1996, grossing £105 million worldwide, and its soundtrack achieved chart-topping success globally. The BFI archives house the papers of Sir Alan Parker, who died in 2020.