Charli XCX, the pop superstar known for pushing boundaries in music, is now making waves in the film industry with her acting debut in Erupcja (Polish for “Eruption”), directed by the acclaimed Jeremy O. Harris. Set against the backdrop of Warsaw, the film features Charli’s leap into acting and brings into the limelight a deep and complex relationship between her character, Bethany, and that of a Polish woman played by Lena Góra.
This role of Bethany is huge for Charli XCX, who has made a name for herself with music by being unafraid to experiment with her sound. She has begun to extend her horizons by taking that fearlessness off the stage. Erupcja also saw Charli co-write the screenplay with Harris-further proven artistic talent in many directions. Bethany is a loner outsider visiting Poland who finds herself in the midst of an intense relationship, the emotional depth and tender vulnerabilities of which reflect what Charli is now undertaking as an actress.
Director Jeremy O. Harris, known for his play Slave Play and his work on the film Zola, has spoken with praise of his adoration for Charli’s acting talents. “She’s incredibly intuitive,” Harris said in an interview. “Charli brings a rawness to Bethany that’s both captivating and deeply moving. Watching her evolve during the shoot was magical.”.
Joining Charli on screen will be Polish actress Lena Góra, mysterious local woman whose life interconnects deeply with Bethany’s. Many recognize Góra for her work in films like Imago and the series headed your way, The Easterngate, with an intensity she brings to the films. The cinematography involving the two has fans excitedly anticipating the chemistry between these two powerful performers.
While Lena’s career has gone up the curve in the European film scene, this role in Erupcja will further cement her reputation as an audacious actress who plunges deep into her characters. The on-screen dynamic of the pair against the evocative streets of Warsaw promises to be one of the film’s highlights.
Shot in Warsaw during this summer of 2024, Erupcja incorporates the Polish capital for more than a backdrop. Warsaw plays an essential role in the story, almost becoming a character herself. Harris wanted the city to reflect the emotional volatility of his characters, and the production did due diligence in capturing both the beauty and the grit. While it has kept its shoot considerably low-profile, the film has hardly been able to evade fan attention since Charli XCX has been spotted time and again to fuel the hype.
Harris is known for always challenging social norms and being able to convey the most intense human emotions through his work, so he could hardly tame his style in Erupcja. Recognized by his bold storytelling, Harris wrote an emotionally intense film that cuts with a sharp social edge. This collaboration they’ve affected in scriptwriting has enabled both artists to enter new creative territories, and their collaboration is one of the driving forces behind the film.
“She had a scene where she cried, without being asked – she could deliver all the goods. She’s a legit actress. I am proud of us for making a movie this way during ‘Brat’ summer.”
Harris said. His raw emotion-cutting edge-narrative directorial style simply moves in tandem with Charli’s bold choices artistically, making Erupcja a unique project that stands out.
Erupcja is building up a place for Charli XCX amongst filmmakers and showing that her artistry goes rather far beyond music. This film represents not only her acting debut but also her rising involvement as a writer and collaborator. The result is something both fans and critics have been dying to see: how this role shapes her artistic evolution.
