Billie Eilish looked worlds away from her usual edgy style as she stepped onto the set of The Bell Jar in Toronto on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old singer was almost unrecognizable while filming the highly anticipated adaptation of Sylvia Plath's iconic novel, embracing a dramatic 1950s transformation for her first major acting role.
Ditching the oversized T-shirts and baggy trousers that have become synonymous with her personal style, Billie slipped into a navy blue button-front dress layered with a striped cropped jacket and matching pillbox-style hat.
Her vintage-inspired look was completed with softly curled brunette hair, bold red lipstick and pearl earrings as she filmed scenes as Esther Greenwood, the novel's troubled 19-year-old protagonist.
© Sean O'Neill / BACKGRIDIn photographs from the set, Billie appeared deeply focused as she stood among extras dressed in period costume, waiting beside one of New York City's famous yellow taxis as cameras rolled.
The Oscar-winning singer is making her feature film acting debut in the project, directed by Sarah Polley, with Carey Mulligan also joining the cast as Esther's mother.
© Getty ImagesA role with personal resonance
Published in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas, The Bell Jar is widely regarded as a semi-autobiographical account of Sylvia Plath's own experiences with mental illness.
The story follows Esther Greenwood after she lands a prestigious magazine internship in 1953 New York before spiraling into severe depression, leading to a suicide attempt and psychiatric hospitalization.
The novel's themes have struck a personal chord with Billie, who has spoken candidly throughout her career about living with depression, anxiety and struggles with self-harm.
© Getty ImagesSylvia herself was offered an internship at Mademoiselle magazine in 1953 before later becoming a patient at McLean Hospital. She died by suicide at the age of 30, with her only novel becoming a literary classic in the decades that followed.
Leaving her signature style behind
Billie's dramatic on-screen makeover is a striking departure from the fashion choices that have defined her career.
The "Birds of a Feather" singer has long embraced oversized silhouettes, explaining that her clothing gives her confidence after years of struggling with her body image.
Speaking to Elle, Billie revealed she experiences "gender euphoria" when wearing loose-fitting clothes, often choosing menswear-inspired pieces.
"I had a really, really toxic relationship with my body. I had a lot of eating issues. I remember putting on, like, a big shirt and the relief that I felt," she explained.
© FilmMagicShe also cited hip-hop icons Missy Elliott and Tyler, the Creator as style influences, adding: "This is the misogyny that we all have within us… which is that I didn't want to be seen as feminine, and therefore weak. It's not right. I've found a good way of not feeling like that."
A new chapter
Although this marks Billie's biggest acting role to date, it is not her first appearance on the big screen.
Earlier this year, she starred in Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), the James Cameron-directed concert film chronicling her record-breaking world tour, which she also co-directed alongside the Oscar-winning filmmaker.
