Billie Eilish is stepping into a whole new role. The Grammy-winning singer was recently photographed on the Toronto set of The Bell Jar, offering the first glimpse of her transformation into Esther Greenwood, the aspiring young writer at the center of Sylvia Plath’s beloved 1963 novel. The film marks Eilish’s feature acting debut.
In the new set photos, Eilish is nearly unrecognizable, having traded her signature baggy streetwear for a vintage 1950s look. She appears with auburn-brown hair styled in a mid-century side part, bright red lipstick, pearl earrings, and a period-inspired outfit featuring a red short-sleeve knit sweater, a checkered pleated skirt, and matching T-strap heels. Other images capture her walking through a recreated New York City street alongside women in colorful vintage attire, as well as filming a rain-soaked scene in a teal shirtwaist dress.
The film is directed and adapted by Oscar winner Sarah Polley, whose previous work includes Women Talking. Focus Features is backing the project, which also stars two-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan as Esther’s mother and Connor Storrie in an undisclosed role. The Bell Jar follows Esther as she navigates ambition, identity, and mental health struggles during a magazine internship in 1950s New York, exploring themes of feminism and societal expectations that remain resonant today. Production began in Toronto in late June 2026, with a 2027 release expected.
