Billie Eilish is reportedly ‘in advanced talks’ to make her big-screen acting debut in an upcoming adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s classic novel, The Bell Jar.
The 24-year-old sullen songstress would be taking on the tough role of 19-year-old Boston student Esther Greenwood, whose clinical depression lead to a suicide attempt and hospitalization after landing a glamorous internship in New York City 1953.
The plum part is not too much of a stretch for Eilish (born O’Connell) – who’s always been open about her lifelong struggle with depression, anxiety and self-harm.
According to Deadline, Focus Features is closing a domestic deal to distribute the film, which will be written and directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Sarah Polley.
The Bell Jar marks the 47-year-old former child star’s fifth directorial feature after Women Talking (2022), Stories We Tell (2012), Take This Waltz (2011) and Away from Her (2006).
Esther – who received ECT shock therapy – was on a quest to forge her own identity in an oppressive patriarchal society and the book’s title was a metaphor for the suffocating feeling her depression evoked.
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Billie Eilish is reportedly ‘in advanced talks’ to make her big-screen acting debut in an upcoming adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s classic novel, The Bell Jar (pictured February 17)
The Bell Jar has long been believed to be a semi-autobiographical story as Plath landed an internship at Mademoiselle in 1953 before becoming a patient at the upscale McLean Hospital and taking her own life at age 30.
The posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner published her only book in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas before her name was finally attached to the literary work in 1966 internationally and 1971 in the States.
Julia Stiles was previously attached to a Bell Jar movie in 2007 and Dakota Fanning was set to star in Kirsten Dunst’s Bell Jar movie in 2016 – neither of which came to fruition.
Marilyn Hassett portrayed Esther in Larry Peerce’s $2 million-budget, dismally-reviewed adaptation of The Bell Jar in 1979.
And Gwyneth Paltrow starred as the author in Christine Jeffs’ dismally-reviewed 2003 biopic Sylvia, which only earned $2.9 million at the box office.
The two-time Oscar-winning songwriter first made her acting debut in 2023 as the sweet-yet-sinister cult leader Eva in Amazon Prime Video’s seven-episode satirical dark comedy, Swarm.
The next year, Eilish took home the People’s Choice Award for TV performance of the year for her effort.
‘Wow, that was crazy to see,’ the 10-time Grammy winner said, thanking her acting coach in the acceptance speech.
‘That was so insane to see all those names and then mine, and I’m here. This is fan-voted, and I want to say how grateful and lucky and privileged I am for that. Thank you so much. This was the first time I ever acted before, and it was awesome.’
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The 24-year-old sullen songstress would be taking on the role of 19-year-old Boston student Esther Greenwood, whose clinical depression lead to a suicide attempt and hospitalization after landing a glamorous internship in New York City 1953 (pictured last Thursday)
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The plum part is not too much of a stretch for Eilish (born O’Connell) – who’s always been open about her lifelong struggle with depression, anxiety and self-harm (pictured February 1)
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Focus Features is closing a domestic deal to distribute the film, which will be written and directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Sarah Polley (pictured in 2023)
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The Bell Jar has long been believed to be a semi-autobiographical story as Plath landed an internship at Mademoiselle in 1953 before becoming a patient at the upscale McLean Hospital and taking her own life at age 30
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Julia Stiles (L) was previously attached to a Bell Jar movie in 2007 and Dakota Fanning (R) was set to star in Kirsten Dunst’s Bell Jar movie in 2016 – neither of which came to fruition
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The two-time Oscar-winning songwriter first made her acting debut in 2023 as the sweet-yet-sinister cult leader Eva in Amazon Prime Video’s seven-episode satirical dark comedy, Swarm
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The next year, Eilish took home the People’s Choice Award for TV performance of the year for her effort: ‘This was the first time I ever acted before, and it was awesome’
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The 10-time Grammy winner – who owns a $2.3 million three-bedroom ranch home in Glendale – last made headlines on February 1 for declaring ‘no one is illegal on stolen land’ while accepting song of the year
Eilish – who owns a $2.3 million three-bedroom ranch home in Glendale – last made headlines on February 1 for declaring ‘no one is illegal on stolen land’ while onstage accepting her Grammy Award for song of the year for Wildflower.
Otherwise, the homeschooled vegan has been laying low since completing her $212.9 million-grossing, 106-date Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour on November 23.
Eilish – who pulls 87.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify – first found fame at age 13 making viral music with her big brother Finneas at their parents’ home in Highland Park, and she’s sold over 76 million records.
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