Taylor Swift unveils her 90s-themed music video for ‘Opalite,’ featuring a notable ensemble cast, while revealing the unique story behind their involvement.
The 36-year-old Grammy winner releases the video on Spotify and Apple Music, showcasing Domhnall Gleeson as a lonely man alongside her portrayal of a lonely woman. Lewis Capaldi appears as a mall photographer, with Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith in television ad cameos, joined by Cillian Murphy.
Inspiration from The Graham Norton Show
The concept emerged during Swift’s October appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where she promoted her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl. Sharing the sofa with Gleeson, 42, Lee, 42, Turner-Smith, 39, and Capaldi, 29, Swift recalls Gleeson’s light-hearted joke about starring in one of her videos.
‘He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an idea,’ Swift explains in a recent Instagram post.
One week later, she sends Gleeson a script she wrote, casting him in the lead. She extends invitations to all fellow guests, including host Graham Norton, 62, envisioning it as ‘a school group project but for adults and it isn’t mandatory.’
Everyone agrees to participate, leading Swift to state, ‘I had more fun than I ever imagined. Made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.’
Album and Personal Insights
‘Opalite’ hails from The Life of a Showgirl, released on October 3—the same day as Swift’s Graham Norton Show episode. During the appearance, she displays her engagement ring and discusses wedding plans with fiancé Travis Kelce.
‘You’ll know. I want to do the album stuff first, and the wedding is what happens after in terms of planning,’ she tells Norton. ‘I think it will be fun to plan.’
Swift describes the album as a secret passion project developed behind the scenes of her Eras Tour. On song inspirations, she notes, ‘I am open about things but in recent years I have a different perspective and like storytelling at a little bit of a distance, so it isn’t like doing a complete autopsy of myself.’
Reflecting on her vocal range, she adds, ‘I think my wheelhouse is bigger now. I feel I can do anything now while running in heels. I am confident to write higher choruses, jump an octave, and do falsetto stuff. I have more confidence after the tour.’
Swift highlights that her father particularly loves ‘Opalite,’ which is also Kelce’s favorite. ‘Growing opals in a lab is an interesting metaphor for making your own happiness; to rise above the trials and tribulations and be happy you did things on your terms,’ she says.
