Lady Gaga's Unique Approach to Harley Quinn in 'Joker: Folie à Deux'
Lady Gaga's Unique Approach to Harley Quinn in 'Joker: Folie à Deux'
In an unprecedented move, Lady Gaga reveals how she transformed her singing style to portray Harley Quinn in the upcoming DC musical 'Joker: Folie à Deux'.
Unlearning to Become Harley
Grammy and Oscar winner Lady Gaga opened up about her distinctive process of preparing for the role of Harley Quinn, also known as Lee, in the highly anticipated 'Joker' sequel. In a recent interview with Empire, Gaga explained how she had to deconstruct her trained singing abilities to authentically embody the character.
"People know me by my stage name, Lady Gaga, right? That's me as that performer, but that is not what this movie is; I'm playing a character." - Lady Gaga
The Art of Imperfection
Gaga, known for her polished performances, described the challenge of incorporating "bum notes" into her singing for the role. "I'm a trained singer, right? So even my breathing was different when I sang as Lee," she explained. This approach required her to remove the technicality from her singing, adapting to a style that Harley Quinn would naturally possess.
Breaking New Ground in Film Music
The pop star highlighted director Todd Phillips' innovative approach to integrating music into the film. "How do you take music and have it just be an extension of the dialogue, as opposed to breaking into song for no conceivable reason? It was unlike anything I've ever done before," Gaga remarked.
A Character-Driven Performance
Gaga emphasized the depth of her character preparation: "I worked a lot on the way that I sang to come from Lee, and to not come from me as a performer." This dedication to authenticity promises to bring a fresh perspective to the iconic character of Harley Quinn.
Phillips' Praise and Inspiration
Todd Phillips commended Gaga's interpretation, drawing an intriguing parallel to infamous historical figures: "She became the way how [Charles] Manson had girls that idolised him. The way that sometimes these [imprisoned murderers] have people that look up to them."
"While there are some things that people would find familiar in her, it's really Gaga's own interpretation, and Scott [Silver, co-writer] and I's interpretation," Phillips added.
A Highly Anticipated Return
'Joker: Folie à Deux', set to premiere on October 4 in US theaters, reunites Phillips with Joaquin Phoenix, whose performance in the 2019 'Joker' earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The sequel promises to blend psychological thriller elements with a unique musical approach, setting it apart from traditional comic book adaptations.
As the release date approaches, fans eagerly anticipate seeing how Lady Gaga's dedicated performance and Phillips' innovative direction will bring new dimensions to the world of Gotham City and its infamous inhabitants.
Sources:
- Empire Magazine, Interview with Lady Gaga, August 2024
- Deadline Hollywood, "Lady Gaga on Becoming Harley Quinn", August 2024
- Warner Bros. Pictures, "Joker: Folie à Deux Press Kit", July 2024