Fans flooded social media Monday after Billie Eilish’s transformation photos from her film debut in “The Bell Jar” dropped—and many said they wouldn’t recognize the pop star.
Set photos shared by celebrity gossip outlet DeuxMoi on Monday, August 3, show Eilish wearing a red shirt with a checkered skirt, matching red shoes and bold red lipstick.
Her light brown hair is styled with a side part, creating a markedly different appearance from her usual public image.
The dramatic shift left fans stunned.
“Based on these pictures alone, it’s very possible I could’ve watched this whole movie and not realized it was even her.”
Another fan gushed online.
“SHE IS GORGEOUSSSSS,” one Instagram user wrote, while another commented, “She certainly looks the part. I’m now intrigued.”
More reactions poured in from the set.
“Omg I walked by this set yesterday and asked what they were shooting, and they lied and said ‘just a commercial’ LOL,” “A mix between Emily Blunt, Emma Stone and Christina Ricci,” “Ooh, that look suits her so well, she looks beautiful,” and “Exactly how I pictured the character in the book.” Other fans chimed in with comparisons.
“im so excited for it!!!! i need to read the bell jar now,” fans wrote, with others chiming in, “I can tell from her facial expressions alone… she’s about to eat this …”
and
“Like she’s truly in her acting bagggg because who is this??”
The 24-year-old’s typically jet black hair was dyed a subtle, natural-looking brown and pinned up on one side. Eilish’s typically nude lip was also swapped for a bold, bright red—fit for the period piece’s era.
The film is director and writer Sarah Polley’s adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s work and will star Eilish as Esther Greenwood.
The only other star to be confirmed for the project is Carey Mulligan as Mrs. Greenwood, Esther’s mother.
Additionally,
Connor Storrie is in the rumored role of Buddy Willard, joining Eilish in the cast.
This marks Eilish’s first major feature film role.
In an interview with Variety in January 2024, Eilish said, “I like it.” In an interview with Vogue in October 2024, she echoed these sentiments: “I really secretly love it,” she said of acting.
The Bell Jar will be her first film, but the musician previously appeared in an episode of Prime Video’s series, “Swarm,” in 2023.
“I was on some management call, and I remember being told, ‘There’s this show, but it’s during a period of time where you’re not available. It’s a pass,'” Eilish recalled to Variety after appearing in the critically-acclaimed role. “I was like, ‘Whoa …”
The source material demands exactly the kind of role Eilish has been developing.
The Bell Jar, originally published in 1963, chronicles Esther Greenwood’s descent into mental illness while grappling with the intense societal expectations placed on young women during the 1950s.
The novel is widely considered semi-autobiographical, drawing heavily from Plath’s own experiences before her death shortly after the book’s original release.
The production itself is substantial.
Production is filming on Bay Street, and YES… Billie Eilish is on set in full costume as production continues transforming downtown Toronto into 1950s New York City.
The film is being produced by Joy Gorman Wettels through her Joy Coalition banner, alongside Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and StudioCanal.
Eilish herself had been publicly open about her interest in acting before landing this role.
Although widely known for her music career, Eilish has already begun exploring acting. In 2023 she appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series Swarm, where she played a cult-like spiritual leader in a brief but memorable role.
In the Swarm episode,
Donald Glover, who cast Eilish in the series, told Rolling Stone in 2024, “She understands storytelling at such a young age, and she’s authentic to her experience. I feel she’s living her life for herself.”
The 24-year-old’s typically colored hair—which was most recently jet black—was also dyed a subtle, natural-looking brown and pinned up on one side.
But the wardrobe transformation goes deeper than just hair and makeup.
The images show Eilish dressed in a red round-neck top paired with a red checkered skirt, fully embodying the 1950s aesthetic of Sylvia Plath’s iconic protagonist, Esther Greenwood.
The overall aesthetic shift has fans comparing her to other celebrated actresses. Reactions included mentions of Emily Blunt and Emma Stone, showing how completely Eilish has shed her recognizable pop-star image for the role.
Eilish’s previous work with film has already earned her top honors.
The pop star lent her songwriting to 2023’s Barbie and contributed “What Was I Made For?” to the soundtrack for the movie—the track won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards in 2024. She also won the award for Best Original Song at the 2022 Oscars for “No Time To Die.”
The film is slated for a 2027 premiere.