EXCLUSIVE: Madonna's friend and video director reveals why star, 65, will never stop working, fears she lives an 'isolated life' and details why marriage may not be on the cards for her again - as she recovers from health scare
Madonna will never slow down as she fights to retain her crown as The Queen Of Pop, despite her recent critical care health scare, claims her longtime pal and video director Ed Steinberg.
The pop icon, 65, is currently preparing for her rescheduled The Celebration Tour dates after her near-fatal battle with a bacterial infection - with Steinberg - who directed her debut music video for Everybody in 1982 - lauding her work ethic.
In an exclusive chat with DailyMail.com, Steinberg branded Madonna an 'A + + class personality', but said he fears she is living an 'isolated' life due to her decades-long fame.
He also weighed in on her love life and said he believes she will not wed again because she 'does not need a man or woman to complete her' - following two failed marriages with actor Sean Penn and director Guy Ritchie.
In June, Madonna spent several days in the ICU with a mystery 'serious bacterial infection'.
![Icon: Madonna will never slow down as she fights to retain her crown as The Queen Of Pop, despite her recent critical care health scare , claims her longtime pal and video director Ed Steinberg (pictured 2019)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965397-12470867-_She_does_not_need_a_man_or_woman_to_complete_her_Madonna_s_frie-a-40_1693603409081.jpg)
Icon: Madonna will never slow down as she fights to retain her crown as The Queen Of Pop, despite her recent critical care health scare , claims her longtime pal and video director Ed Steinberg (pictured 2019)
![Long-term loves: She was previously married to Sean Penn (pictured 2016)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965387-12470867-Long_term_loves_She_was_previously_married_to_Sean_Penn_and_Guy_-a-37_1693603408945.jpg)
![Madonna pictured with Ritchie in 2001](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965389-12470867-Madonna_pictured_with_Ritchie_in_2001-a-39_1693603408946.jpg)
Long-term loves: She was previously married to Sean Penn (seen left 2016) and Guy Ritchie (right in 2001)
Steinberg said: 'She's old, had a couple of kids and is still touring and it is amazing. Madonna is on a mission. The mission takes up 24 hours of your day.
'I've worked with mostly every rock star: David Bowie, everyone – she's the one at a relatively young age who took no prisoners. Nothing will stop her.
'She was like a freight train. She did everything really carefully and that train ploughed down the line and nothing on the line got in her way.
'Even from the start with the management and record label she had a business savvy to sign up to and align herself with the best people.
'Madonna is not just a pop star, but a cultural and music icon. She represented for young women a freedom on how to dress, how to act sexually and socially and financially. She is a shrewd cookie.'
'The first time I met her I knew she would be famous. She had it. People like Prince, Bowie and Madonna are not like the rest of us, they are other worldly.
'Madonna has magic - pure and simple. There is an alchemy in her DNA that just made her the perfect pop star. It is not luck. She has talent, intelligence, her work ethic is extraordinary and many people will not realize that.'
Steinberg also praised the star's non-stop work ethic.
!['Nothing will stop her': Director Ed Steinberg raved about Madonna's drive and determination; Madonna pictured 200](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/16/74965393-12470867-image-a-18_1693583508117.jpg)
'Nothing will stop her': Director Ed Steinberg raved about Madonna's drive and determination; Madonna pictured 2000)
![Ex factor: Madonna broke up with 23-year-old skateboarder and model Andrew Darnell in February](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965395-12470867-Ex_factor_Madonna_broke_up_with_23_year_old_skateboarder_and_mod-a-36_1693603408944.jpg)
Ex factor: Madonna broke up with 23-year-old skateboarder and model Andrew Darnell in February
![Behind-the-scenes: Madonna pictured on the set of her music video Everybody](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965491-12470867-Behind_the_scenes_Madonna_pictured_on_the_set_of_her_music_video-a-38_1693603408946.jpg)
Behind-the-scenes: Madonna pictured on the set of her music video Everybody
'She told me, "Ed I get up at 5.30 in the morning, I run, do exercise."
'This was a singer - not an athlete. She studied. She always worked. If she was not working out, she was working the room.'
But Madonna's drive and work ethic will cost her finding Mr. Right, warned Steinberg.
Madonna broke up with 23-year-old skateboarder and model Andrew Darnell in February, but soon after started dating 29-year-old boxer Josh Popper.
Steinberg reflected: 'She's an A plus, plus, plus personality.'
'She cannot take a back seat. Obviously her two marriages didn't work out, but she will never be short of attention from men or love.
![Sing it! Madonna taking a break on the set of Everybody along with Ed](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965485-12470867-Sing_it_Madonna_taking_a_break_on_the_set_of_Everybody_along_wit-m-48_1693603957578.jpg)
Sing it! Madonna taking a break on the set of Everybody along with Ed
'I think she is someone who can go through men for her whole life, because she is the boss. Not everyone needs to be married. People like Madonna do not experience traditional love.
'Being a mum is the focus of her emotional energy. She does not need a man or woman to complete her.'
Joking, he added: 'She does not need some mere mortal to be their partner.
'Sure she could marry a passive man to have an easy life. But I can't see it, but maybe that would work for her.
'But at the forefront of her mind is "what do I have to get done? What do I have to do to be successful and achieve this goal?"
'And spending traditional time with a boyfriend or husband takes away from that.'
Steinberg adds that Penn and the pop star were 'really in love', but work schedules and growth led them 'to drift apart.'
He added second hubby Guy Richie was 'really nice', but also added the benefit of their union was boosting her global appeal.
'In America she reached a glass ceiling. Her fame was not going to grow unless she married the President, so by marrying someone like Guy raised her appeal again.
'I always felt that she wanted to be a princess of sorts. Superstars like her have a tough life. How do you have a mate when you have that life?'
![Quiet on set! Steinberg pictured shooting the Everybody music video](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965479-12470867-Quiet_on_set_Steinberg_pictured_shooting_the_Everybody_music_vid-a-46_1693603409215.jpg)
Quiet on set! Steinberg pictured shooting the Everybody music video
![Steinberg, pictured 2018, first became friends with feisty wannabe dancer and singer Madonna Louise Ciccone in 1982](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74965477-12470867-Steinberg_pictured_2018_first_became_friends_with_feisty_wannabe-a-43_1693603409210.jpg)
Steinberg, pictured 2018, first became friends with feisty wannabe dancer and singer Madonna Louise Ciccone in 1982
![Success! 'But Everybody became a club hit. It was on MTV, it was on all the TV channels and Warner just scored. It put her on the map,' Ed said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/01/22/74966915-12470867-Success_But_Everybody_became_a_club_hit_It_was_on_MTV_it_was_on_-a-44_1693603409211.jpg)
Success! 'But Everybody became a club hit. It was on MTV, it was on all the TV channels and Warner just scored. It put her on the map,' Ed said
Steinberg has sympathy too for his friend, who is 'very isolated' - adding 'I am not sure how she copes with that exposure.
'She once was the second most photographed woman in the world alongside Lady Diana. Number two was Madonna.
'When she had that stalker it was depressing and obviously terrifying. No money can ease the mental anguish of that. Madonna, truly is a very good person. I'll always defend her