Lady Gaga recently shared insights about her role in the film Joker: Folie a Deux, discussing its psychological impact on her after finishing the shoot. The movie, directed by Todd Phillips, is a musical psychological thriller that premiered to a standing ovation at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.
In Joker: Folie a Deux, Lady Gaga stars as Harley Quinn, alongside Joaquin Phoenix, who reprises his role as Arthur Fleck. Gaga’s character, Lee, eventually transforms into Harley Quinn while being a patient in Arkham State Hospital, where Phoenix's character is held as a maximum-security inmate.
The sequel to the acclaimed 2019 film Joker was released in theaters on October 4, following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The original movie was a massive success, winning the Golden Lion at Venice and earning 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir. The sequel is said to be a musical, featuring more of Phoenix’s iconic dance scenes from the first film. The supporting cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey, with Zazie Beetz returning as Sophie.
When asked about the psychological effects of her role, Gaga said, “I didn’t, really,” adding, “I didn’t bring her home with me, for sure… you fall in love with the characters that you play.” She mentioned her experience playing Ally in A Star Is Born and how that character lingered with her. Gaga reflected, “I wonder how long she’ll stay. Or if she’ll be in there forever.” In 2022, she even dyed her hair to match Ally's, emphasizing the importance of immersing herself in her characters so audiences feel they are witnessing a performance, not just her.
Gaga acknowledged that sometimes she struggles to leave her characters behind but feels she is in a good place now. In her personal life, she and Michael Polansky made their red carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Joker: Folie a Deux on September 4. Their relationship, which became public during Super Bowl weekend in Miami in 2020, saw Gaga confirming their engagement in July 2024. The couple kept their engagement private for several months, sharing the news only with close friends and family.
Gaga expressed her happiness about her relationship with Polansky, stating, “I am so happy to be in love, and I’m so excited to have a family, so that’s definitely number one. But also, I really believe in the ability to grow as a person.”
Joker: Folie a Deux, featuring a talented cast including Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Leigh Gill, Zazie Beetz, Sharon Washington, and Steve Coogan, is currently in theaters.
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