Lana Del Rey Hits the Big Screen: Is a Movie Debut Coming Soon?

The phrase “She wore blue velvet” may bring to mind the gentle voice of Isabella Rossellini from David Lynch’s film Blue Velvet. Alternatively, some might recall the haunting mezzo-soprano voice of Lana Del Rey when she covered Bobby Vinton’s original song in 2012.

Often described as a “cinematic” singer due to the atmospheres in her songs, the visuals in her music videos, and her unique persona, Lana Del Rey shared her inspirations in a recent interview with W Magazine. “Of course, Quentin Tarantino fascinates me. He and David Lynch have been major influences on my work,” she disclosed.

In a 2017 interview with Vulture, the director of Mulholland Drive expressed his profound admiration for the singer of Cinnamon Girl: “She has an incredible charisma, and it’s very intriguing. It seems like she was born in a different era. She has a very captivating quality that appeals to the audience.” Through her albums, Lana Del Rey has portrayed America in her songs much like David Lynch has on the big screen: a typically shattered American dream, filled with anxiety and oddity.

Film Ambitions

Beyond her lyrics, there’s the visual element. Her music video, Tropico, was even premiered in a Hollywood cinema as a short film lasting about 30 minutes. Lana Del Rey also expressed to W Magazine her desire to venture into filmmaking. “I would love to act in a movie. In the studio, I tend to get everything right in one take. However, for my videos, I prefer to try multiple takes, redoing the scene over and over.” Perhaps one day, Lana Del Rey will take that step and find herself on the big screen like her idols.