Michelle Pfeiffer has named Evita as the one role from her long list of near-misses that she still wishes she had taken, though she maintains that stepping away was the right choice for her family at the time. She had originally been announced as the lead in July 1994, but withdrew after giving birth and learning the production would relocate to England, calling the timing "so wrong". Madonna ultimately won the part and starred in the 1996 Alan Parker film.

Pfeiffer explained she had finished filming Dangerous Minds while seven months pregnant and had begun preparing demos for original director Oliver Stone before deciding family came first. Stone later also left the project, with Parker taking over and shooting finally starting in February 1996. Despite having three films released that year and technically having the availability to do Evita after all, Pfeiffer said she has no ill will towards Madonna, praising her performance as "a great job" — in contrast to Meryl Streep, who reportedly once threatened Madonna over losing the role.