The one director who empowered Lady Gaga: “You have to throw it out of the window”
There has always been a thin line between acting and music, with performers in both fields regularly crossing over with mixed results. One of the more prominent transitions in recent years has been that of Lady Gaga. The 13-time Grammy winner made her film debut in 2013’s Machete Kills and then played a supporting role in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For one year later.
Her major breakthrough came with her portrayal of rising singer Ally Maine in the 2018 version of A Star is Born. Her performance and on-screen chemistry with Bradley Cooper stunned viewers and critics alike and earned her a ‘Best Actress’ nomination at the Oscars. Whilst she didn’t win in that category, she did take home a statuette for ‘Shallow’, which won ‘Best Original Song’.
Gaga’s conversion to the world of acting has allowed her to work alongside some of the greats. According to a conversation she had with Screen Daily, one legend that had a particular impact on her was Sir Ridley Scott, whom she worked with on 2021’s House of Gucci. “He became a great friend of mine. As a collaborator, he’s incredibly empowering,” she revealed. “I will never forget the first time he came to talk to me on set. He asked: ‘So what’s the scene about?’ I knew he already had an idea of what the scene was about, because he storyboards everything, but he was curious about how my view as a woman would colour the way we might think about the circumstance of the scene… No matter how much work you put in – whether it’s a sense-memory technique, or Method, or analysis of the script – you have to throw it out the window so you can be fully present for your director and ‘be’ the character that you’re playing.”
House of Gucci chronicled the sordid tale of the legendary Italian fashion house, particularly the murder of Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), which was arranged by his wife Patrizia, Gaga’s character. Despite early Oscar buzz, particularly for the singer, the movie earned just a single nomination for Hair and Makeup at the biggest night of the year. It also became a focal point for online criticism, particularly over certain actors’ attempts at Italian accents.
The public also had mixed responses to Gaga’s approach to the character. She famously used a Method acting technique that embodied several animals in her portrayal of Patrizia, drawing observers’ criticism and ridicule. In the interview, she confirmed that she spent nine months preparing for the role, studying and behaving like a real socialite.
Her performance and the film, in general, drew the ire of the real Gucci family, particularly Patrizia, who was released from prison in 2016 after 18 years behind bars. “I have seen a few different statements from different members of the family,” Gaga said in response to this controversy. “And what I will say is, I knew it would be a challenge for me to hold and understand that this was gonna be very painful for the family. My heart goes out to them, and I do care for them, whether they’re able to receive that or not. I meant no ill intention and I intended to make a soulful performance.
Since House of Gucci, Gaga has returned to the screen in Joker: Folie à Deux, another film that received wildly polarising reviews. The next screen project is the second season of Netflix’s Wednesday, which perfectly suits her eccentric style. As for her relationship with Scott, it remains to be seen if they will get the chance to work together again, but it seems as if the British director will always have a special place in the heart of Mother Monster.
