Madonna wasn’t always the iconic, sizzling sex symbol who millions of fans have come to know and adore. In fact, according to the Material Girl herself, her childhood was “tortured” and rife with painful schoolyard taunts.
“The boys in my school would make fun of me,” Madonna revealed in an interview for Harper’s Bazaar’s December issue. “[They called me] ‘hairy monster.’ You know, things like that.”
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Madonna - Music’s Royal Madgesty!
Madge also revealed that she began to find her confidence when she ventured out to gay clubs in her teen years.
“Straight men did not find me attractive,” she told the mag. “I think they were scared of me because I was different.”
Though many fans are in awe of her ability to retain her youthful looks and seemingly endless energy, Madonna says she’s tired of having her age constantly mentioned in the press.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Madonna Though The Years
“I find whenever someone writes anything about me, my age is right after my name,” she said. “It’s almost like they’re saying, ‘Here she is, but remember she’s this age, so she’s not that relevant anymore.’ Or ‘Let’s punish her by reminding her and everyone else.’
Adding, “When you put someone’s age down, you’re limiting them. To have fun, that’s the main issue. To continue to be a provocateur, to do what we perceive as the realm of young people, to provoke, to be rebellious, to start a revolution.”
Age certainly has not limited Madonna’s ability to provoke — the superstar is currently gearing up for the Dec. 9 release of her feature film directorial debut, “W.E,” a romantic drama based on the affair between England’s King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson — a topic the singer found to be strangely polarizing during her time across the pond.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Madonna’s Men
“When I brought up the subject of Wallis Simpson to people when I was living in England, I was astounded by the outrage that was provoked by her name,” Madonna said. “The movie is all about the cult of celebrity. We like to put people on a pedestal, give them one character trait, and if they step outside of that shrine-like area that we blocked out for them, then we will punish them.”
For the full interview with Madonna, pick up a copy of Harper’s Bazaar, on newsstands Nov. 29.