Lady Gaga is redefining her vocal approach for her highly anticipated role as Harley Quinn in the upcoming film ‘Joker: Folie à Deux\’. The Grammy and Oscar-winning star revealed to Empire magazine that she’s adopting an entirely new vocal style to bring this iconic DC character, originally from Batman: The Animated Series, to life.
In this sequel, Gaga steps into the shoes of Harley Quinn, a psychiatrist who becomes entangled with Arthur Fleck, the Joker, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. Gaga's portrayal of Quinn will showcase a distinct departure from her well-known stage persona.
“Most people know me as Lady Gaga, the performer,” Gaga explained.
“But this film isn’t about that. I’m immersing myself in a character, and I had to adapt my singing style to reflect Harley Quinn’s essence rather than my own.”
A significant part of Gaga’s transformation involved shedding her refined, classically trained vocals for a more raw and unpolished sound. “There are moments where my singing as Lee is intentionally off-key,” she admitted. “I’m trained to sing with controlled breathing to stay on pitch, but Harley Quinn isn’t aware of these technical aspects. For this role, I had to abandon those techniques and fully embrace the character’s authenticity.”
The film's unique approach uses musical numbers to advance the narrative, replacing conventional dialogue with song. “Integrating music into the story seamlessly rather than just bursting into song was a new challenge,” Gaga reflected. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”
Casting director Francine Maisler, speaking at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, revealed that Gaga’s casting was a bold move by director Todd Phillips. “I didn’t suggest Lady Gaga for the role; that was Todd’s idea,” Maisler shared. “But I was blown away by her performance. We all knew she was talented from ‘A Star is Born’, but her portrayal of Harley Quinn is on another level. To match Joaquin Phoenix’s intensity and hold her own in such a demanding role is truly remarkable. She’s going to surprise everyone.”
With Gaga's fresh vocal approach and the film’s innovative use of music, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ promises to offer a compelling and original take on Harley Quinn, showcasing Gaga’s extraordinary range and depth as an artist.
