Billie Eilish tipped to make lead film acting debut in adaptation of classic novel

Over the years, plenty of musicians have made the move across to acting. Recently, Charli xcx took on the lead role in mockumentary film The Moment, in which she plays herself.

Now, it has been reported that Billie Eilish will also be taking on a lead acting role in a film, specifically an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s classic novel, The Bell Jar.

According to Deadline, the film will be helmed by Women Talking director Sarah Polley, who will also be writing the screenplay.

Little else is currently known about the adaptation, which will be produced by Joy Gorman Wettels (13 Reasons Why), Plan B Entertainment and StudioCanal.

The Bell Jar, the only novel by Plath, was published in 1963, and is a semi-autobiographical story about a young woman called Esther Greenwood, who strives to build a career in 1950s New York.

As her professional ambitions crumble, Esther spirals into a mental and emotional crisis, feeling trapped under the metaphorical 'bell jar' that distorts her reality and isolates her from the world.

The novel was previously adapted into a 1979 film directed by Larry Peerce and starring Marilyn Hassett and Julie Harris, while a potential 2007 version starring Julia Stiles never saw the light of day.

Other potential adaptations starring Dakota Fanning and Frankie Shaw were also abandoned.

Eilish, known for her hit singles including Bad Guy and Birds of a Feather, has previously contributed original songs to films including No Time to Die and Barbie.

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