Billie Eilish is coming for that EGOT status.
Warning: mild spoilers ahead.
While busy conquering the world with her Happier Than Ever Tour, breaking multiple records, and getting accolades for her music left and right, it turns out that international pop superstar Billie Eilish is not done pushing her own limits. Because just recently, the seven-time Grammy winner broke the internet once more, this time with her first foray into the world of acting. Is there anything she can’t do?
MORE SINISTER THAN EVER
If you’re looking for a new binge-worthy series to get obsessed with, then Amazon Prime Video’s provocative limited thriller series, Swarm, is up your alley. Helmed by Janine Nabers and Atlanta’s showrunner Donald Glover (also known as rapper Childish Gambino), the seven-parter follows Dre (Dominique Fishback), a fictional fan whose obsession with the Beyoncé-esque icon, Ni’Jah, thrusts her into a two-year-long murderous and multi-state odyssey, committing crimes of passion in defense of her favorite pop artist.
Yes, while it sounds outrageously violent, its societal undertones are also quite familiar. With each episode starting with a warning, “This is not a work of fiction,” Swarm explores and even comments, through the lens of the horror genre, the stan culture and its wild repercussions, as well as the deadly effects of social media.
Since its release last March 17, Swarm has already gained its own swarm of fans, with critics praising Fishback’s performance and netizens just being hyped up by some celebrity cameos, especially that of Billie Eilish.
When Swarm’s official trailer dropped days ago, it was Billie Eilish’s clips that quickly spread online like wildfire, surprising everyone with her acting debut. That creepy interrogation scene stunned everyone with Eilish’s acting chops ultimately shining. In the fourth episode of the show, Eilish plays the character Eva, a leader of a mysterious all-female group, who meets Fishback’s Dre in one of her road stops. Later on, Dre discovers that the group is less of a “female empowerment” commune and more of a deranged cult.
“Did you hurt someone?”🩸@SwarmOnPrime, out tomorrow pic.twitter.com/RTnTIVnR29
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) March 16, 2023
In an interview, Swarm co-creator and co-producer Nabers reveals that Eilish’s character was inspired by the real-life marketing-scheme-turned-sex-cult called NXIVM and its leader Keith Raniere, who was sentenced to 120 years in prison for a high-profile sex-trafficking case. “Our casting director is brilliant, and when she pitched [Billie Eilish] for the role of Eva, we were like, ‘Oh, she’s really cool! Let’s go with it!’ And it worked out. She was great,” says Nabers.
Meanwhile, Billie Eilish has also posted a series of Swarm-related posts on Instagram. In one special throwback filled with behind-the-scenes photos, the twenty-one-year-old superstar says, “I feel so honored to be a part of something so special, surrounded by PEOPLE so special.” She also gives an endearing shoutout to Fishback whom she considers her “idol” and whom she will cherish forever. “Watching dom do her f*ckin thing was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.” In a sweet exchange, Fishback expresses her love and admiration for Eilish. “So blessed to know you and to be your first scene partner,” she adds.
Revel in Billie Eilish’s actress era and stream all seven episodes of Swarm on Amazon Prime Video now.
Continue Reading: 5 Highlights From Billie Eilish’s Manila Concert That Made Us Happier Than Ever
