FEATURE:
Don’t Stop Now
IN THIS PHOTO: Dua Lipa at the 2022 Grammys/PHOTO CREDIT: Lauren Leekley
Dua Lipa’s Move Into Acting…and the Artists That Should Follow
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MAYBE it is a minor notion…
IN THIS PHOTO: Dua Lipa and Henry Caville in Argylle/PHOTO CREDIT: Apple TV+
but major motion pictures with respected and mainstream artists in the role are becoming more common – though they aren’t as common as you’d imagine. I will finish with a few artists who people would love to see hit the big screen. Or at least spend more time on there. This has been motivated by news that Dua Lipa is moving into acting. Whereas contemporaries like Taylor Swift have inevitably stepped into roles and look set to take their talent and gravitas to cinema (Swift had a brief role in this year’s Amsterdam), there are others that are surely primed for that transition and transition from film to music. Lady Gaga and Harry Styles have appeared in films with mixed results. As NME report, Lipa has said that her first role is baby steps:
“The pop star plays an undisclosed role in Apple TV+‘s forthcoming spy thriller Argylle, which is slated for release next year, opposite Henry Cavill.
Lipa has addressed her acting debut on a recent episode of her podcast Dua Lipa: At Your Service on iHeartMedia.
Speaking to Schitt’s Creek creator and star Dan Levy on the episode, Lipa reflected on shooting the film. “I had a really great time, and it was really exciting, but I think for me it’s like baby steps,” she said.
“I think that’s also just, like, the best way to discover yourself as well. Rather than throwing yourself in the deep end with something that maybe you can’t completely tackle head on. Like, I think my biggest fear would be taking on a really big role and being, like, fuck. Now I have to, like, be an actor and feel these emotions and feelings on camera, when I haven’t, like, you know, brought myself up to that point yet. But definitely really exciting.”
The film, which adapts the currently unpublished novel by Ellie Conway, features an ensemble cast of Cavill and Lipa alongside Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara and Ariana DeBose, with John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.
According to a press release, the film “follows the globe-trotting adventures of a super-spy named Argylle across the US, London and other exotic locations”.
Vaughn (Kingsman) is on board to direct from a script written by Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman), produced by Marv and Vaughn’s regular collaborators Adam Bohling and David Reid, as well as Fuchs. Zygi Kamasa, Carlos Peres, Claudia Vaughn and Adam Fishbach will serve as executive producers.
Meanwhile, in other Dua Lipa news the singer revealed recently that she feels more in “control” on her forthcoming new album than ever before”.
This looks like an interesting project! As a major artist whose latest album, Future Nostalgia (2020), took her to a new level, Dua Lipa would have had offers for film and T.V. projects. I have said for a long time how Lipa would make a natural film actor. A lot of big artists do, as they are on the largest stages and, through their videos and music, adopt different roles. I know the disciplines are different, but as everyone from Halsey, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna and even Justin Timberlake have shown is that they can tackle a range of different roles with aplomb!
I think Argylle is a film Dua Lipa will slip comfortably into (sorry!). She has a charisma, conviction, allure and screen command that is very obvious from videos and interviews. From her live performances, we can feel this very accomplished young women who has an exceptional ability. Her physicality brings her songs to life, and she turns her shows into spectacles. Maybe the small role she has at the moment is a little more modest, but by channelling her multiple gifts, I think she will get people watching closely. There are definitely going to be more roles off. Lead roles too. I think that Lipa is sensible that she is not getting ahead of her. Not to keep comparing her to others, but I think of Lady Gaga, an exceptionally natural and acclaimed actor. Award-nominated and with terrific versatility, I can see Dua Lipa enjoying the same sort of success. There is a natural and very obvious spark that she will bring to the screen. It gets me thinking about other artists that could ably go into acting. I know Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) has said she would like to take on acting roles. I could see her doing some incredible T.V. series and films. Taylor Swift has had a few film roles, but she is going to enjoy some huge lead roles soon. Keeping with Pop, and Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish seem like they are made for the screen. Kendrick Lamar would be such a powerful and awesome actor.
IN THIS PHOTO: Tinashe/PHOTO CREDIT: Pat Martin for THE FACE
To me, Tinashe would be sublime and such a phenomenal actor. Again, someone who I could see just owning various roles and being award nominated. This is just me throwing out names, but I think they would all be a success. I am not suggesting we flood films and T.V. roles – big series on streaming sites would also be a perfect place for wonderful artists to show their chops – with artists, but there is something about them that add something special. Coming from music, they bring new angles and layers to roles. Used to adopting different personas and sharing a lot of the same disciplines actors are taught, there are so many potential stars out there. Even though Teyana Taylor is a successful actor, musician, director and dancer, she is someone who absolutely explodes and ignites the screen. I hope that she has in mind some roles in 2023, as I can distinctly picture her in some particular film roles. The Harlem-born superstar is someone who could win multiple awards for acting roles.
IN THIS PHOTO: Teyana Taylor/PHOTO CREDIT: Carl Timpone/BFA
Whether you’d imagine Billie Eilish being Debbie Harry in a Blondie biopic, Dua Lipa going onto be a bad-ass spy in a thriller, Tinashe stunning in a complex physiological drama or Kendrick Lamar starring in a 1970s-set comedy-drama that brings to mind the classic films of Spike Lee, there are pairings that we can all imagine. Taylor Swift seems like she would be able to do screwball comedy as well as horror, romantic comedy or pretty much any other film genre. From historical pioneers, LGBTQIA+ icons, famous musicians and fictional roles, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the world of music and acting. How they are naturally linked and yet there are not as many artists in acting roles as you’d imagine. I think that Dua Lipa is going to get a lot of great reviews for her work in Argylle. She will definitely blossom as an actor. Who knows just how huge that side of her career will get. As we move into 2023, I predict that artists major and upcoming will step into film and T.V. roles. Some terrific performances have been turned in this year by beloved artists, so next year will not disappoint. Just make sure that you…
KEEP your eyes peeled.