Taylor Swift is no stranger to convincing some of the world’s biggest A-listers to make cameos in her music videos.
The move has a long history when it comes to her back catalogue. After all, who can forget her 2014 “Bad Blood” video, which featured 16 members of her famous Girl Squad? Everyone from Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez to Cindy Crawford and Jessica Alba all popped up during the killer clip.
Swift, 36, brought back this magic with a whole new cast of stars when she dropped the official music video for “Opalite,” the third track from her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, in February 2026.
While the video is jam-packed full of celebs, one star in particular – Cillian Murphy – has tongues wagging due to his subtle inclusion this time around.
What Role Does Cillian Murphy Play in the ‘Opalite’ Music Video?
Murphy’s role in the “Opalite” has a few fans scratching their heads, as it isn’t as obvious as some of the other cameos.
The Inception star, 49, is actually included twice. First, he is the opening voiceover in the infomercial for magical product Opalite.
“Hey there pal, why so glum? Have you been feeling unsatisfied in life? Maybe, you’re lacking connection in a friendship or a relationship. Maybe you give more than you get back. What if I told you, you could magically turn all that crappiness into happiness?” Murphy can be heard saying in the ad.
He continues, “No need to fret, no more frustration. Introducing… Opalite, the revolutionary fix for your problems. Just one spray and Opalite magically transforms your problems into your paradise. Using our state of the art chemical potion, it works on friendships, couples, pets and coworkers.”
A photo of Murphy giving a thumbs up later appears in a giant print ad on a wall for Opalite.
Taylor Swift. (Photo by Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images)
Which Other Celebrities Appear in the ‘Opalite’ Video?
The Oppenheimer actor isn’t the only celeb to grace the screen during “Opalite.” Murphy is joined by Graham Norton, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith and Lewis Capaldi.
Gleeson, 42, portrays a character in a one-sided relationship with a cactus, which turns into Swift when he sprays it with the Opalite potion.
“Someone You Loved” singer Capaldi, 29, plays a mall photographer who is tasked with taking portrait photos of Swift and Gleeson, while talk show host Norton, 62, acts as a salesman selling Opalite’s antidote, the aptly named, “Nope-alite.”
Meanwhile, Lee, 42, appears as a singer on TV while Swift is hanging out with her “rock” best friend and Turner-Smith, 39, plays an aerobic instructor that Swift and the “rock” work out to.
Other notable cameos in “Opalite” include some of Swift’s Eras Tour dancers such as Kameron Saunders as a dance judge and Jan Ravnik in a commercial.
Graham Norton. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)
Why Did Taylor Swift Choose Graham Norton Guests to Appear in ‘Opalite’?
Swift revealed via her Instagram on February 6 that she had conjured up the idea to include them all when she was doing promo for her Life of a Showgirl album on The Graham Norton Show in October 2025. The stars who made cameos in “Opalite” were also guests.
“I remember thinking I got ridiculously lucky with the group I was paired with. Cillian Murphy, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, @JodieSmith, and @LewisCapaldi,” she wrote. “All people whose work I’ve admired from afar. When we were all talking during the broadcast, Domhnall made a light hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos. He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an *idea*. And so a week later he received an email script I’d written for the Opalite video, where he was playing the starring role.”
She continued, “I had this thought that it would be wild if all of our fellow guests on the Graham Norton show that night, including Graham himself, could be a part of it too. Like a school group project but for adults and it isn’t mandatory. To my delight, everyone from the show made the effort to time travel back to the 90’s with us and help with this video. You might even recognize some friendly faces from The Eras Tour”
What Is the Plot of Taylor Swift’s ‘Opalite’ Music Video?
Set in the 1990s, the fun and silly plot of the “Opalite” music video follows Swift’s one-sided friendship with her best friend, a rock. Gleeson’s character is seen experiencing a similar codependent dynamic with a cactus.
After being introduced to Opalite, a spray potion that promises to turn “crappiness into happiness,” Swift’s “lonely woman” character is connected to Gleeson’s “lonely man” character and they embark on a series of dates with stereotypical 90s vibes such as going to the mall and taking part in a dance competition.
Taylor Swift‘s music videos have included many memorable appearances from famous men taking on the roles of her love interests. Over the years, the Grammy winner has enlisted many well-known actors to help make her visions come to life, including Stephen Colletti, who starred in the 2008 music video for “White Horse.” Thank You! You […]
Swift has previously spoken about the meaning behind “Opalite,” sharing that it can be interpreted as a metaphor for intentionally looking for love and not letting past romances get you down.
In October 2025, the singer opened up about the symbolism of the song and its connection to her fiancé Travis Kelce in an interview with Capital FM.
“Travis’ birthstone is an opal, so I’ve always fixated on that, I’ve always loved that stone,” she explained at the time. “I thought it was kind of a cool metaphor. [Opalite is] a man-made opal, and happiness can also be man-made, too. So, that’s kind of what the song is about, kind of the juxtaposition of those two.”
