Billie Eilish Set For Film Acting Debut In Sarah Polley’s Adaptation Of The Bell Jar

Singer and songwriter Billie Eilish is preparing to step into a new space in her career, taking on a leading role in a planned film adaptation of The Bell Jar, the only novel written by American poet and author Sylvia Plath.

The project will be directed by filmmaker Sarah Polley, who is also writing the screenplay. It marks her first feature since earning the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay in 2023 for Women Talking.

Eilish, already widely recognized in music, enters the production as its central performer. The singer is a two-time Oscar winner for original songs she co-wrote with her brother Finneas, contributing music to the films Barbie and No Time to Die.

Plath’s novel remains one of the most widely discussed works of twentieth-century American literature. Published in 1963 under a pseudonym, the semi-autobiographical story follows a young woman navigating mental illness while confronting rigid social expectations placed on women in the 1950s. The book appeared shortly before Plath’s death and has long been considered a literary classic.

Polley’s adaptation has found a home at Focus Features. Production will be handled by Joy Gorman Wettels along with Plan B Entertainment and StudioCanal.

Wettels first developed the project through her company Joy Coalition. She assembled the creative team, pairing Polley and Eilish before bringing Plan B and StudioCanal into the partnership ahead of Focus Features joining the film.

While the upcoming film represents Eilish’s first major acting role on the big screen, she has already appeared on television. The musician made her acting debut in the Prime Video series Swarm, created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers and starring Dominique Fishback.

Her appearance in the series drew attention from critics and audiences, earning her the People’s Choice Award for TV performance of the year and a nomination at the Independent Spirit Award for best supporting performance in a new scripted series.

Eilish has also been expanding her work behind the camera. She is co-directing an upcoming concert tour documentary titled “Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour” with filmmaker James Cameron, known for directing films such as Avatar and Titanic.

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With Polley’s adaptation now in development, the project brings together a filmmaker returning after an Oscar-winning screenplay and a musician continuing to broaden her creative work across film and television.

The film remains at the development stage, with production partners now attached and the central role set.