Billie Eilish May Make Her Acting Debut in a New Film Adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s ‘The Bell Jar’ with Director Sarah Polley
Billie Eilish Set to Make Acting Debut in ‘The Bell Jar’ Adaptation
Ten-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar-winning songwriter Billie Eilish is in advanced discussions to make her acting debut in an adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s renowned novel, The Bell Jar.
Sarah Polley, an Oscar winner recognized for her films including Women Talking and Away From Her, is set to direct the project. Focus Features is finalizing a deal to back and distribute the film in the U.S.
The production will be led by Joy Gorman Wettels, known for her work on Little House on the Prairie and 13 Reasons Why, alongside Plan B Entertainment and StudioCanal. Gorman Wettels initiated the project through her company, Joy Coalition, collaborating with Eilish and Polley, and creating partnerships with Plan B and StudioCanal before Focus joined the project. The screenplay is penned by Polley.
The Bell Jar is the sole novel authored by American writer Sylvia Plath, first published in 1963. This semi-autobiographical narrative follows a young woman’s struggle with mental illness amid societal pressures, mirroring Plath’s own battle with depression. Plath tragically took her own life just a month after the book’s initial UK release. The novel became a bestseller in the U.S. and has been translated into over forty languages. Eilish is slated to portray the lead character, Esther Greenwood.
The material resonates with Eilish, often referred to as the “dark pop queen,” known for her introspective and soulful lyrics. While there are no current plans for Eilish to contribute music to the film, such a development could enhance the project.
Eilish has received Oscars for Best Original Song, winning in 2022 for No Time To Die and again in 2024 for Barbie. At just 22, she became the youngest two-time Oscar winner in history and the only Oscar winner born in the 21st century.
Previous adaptations of The Bell Jar have seen limited success. The most notable was a 1979 film directed by Larry Peerce featuring Marilyn Hassett and Julie Harris. Plans for adaptations featuring Julia Stiles in 2007 and Kirsten Dunst with Dakota Fanning a decade later never materialized. In 2019, Showtime attempted to develop a series version with Frankie Shaw, but this also fell through.
Details about the project and Eilish’s potential involvement were initially reported by The Insider. Eilish is represented by WME and Sandbox Entertainment, while Polley is represented by WME, GGA, and Circle Management. Gorman Wettels is represented by Nina Shaw at Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.
