Taylor Swift has shared the inspiration behind her star-studded music video for Opalite.
The 36-year-old Grammy winner released the 90s-themed video, which sees Domhnall Gleeson play a lonely man opposite her lonely woman, on Spotify and Apple Music on Friday.
Singer Lewis Capaldi also stars as a mall photographer while actresses Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith make appearances in television ads along with actor Cillian Murphy.
In a new post shared on Friday, Swift revealed that the idea for the video ‘crash landed into my imagination’ during her October appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
At the time, the pop star had been promoting her latest album The Life of a Showgirl and joined Gleeson, 42, Lee, 42, Turner-Smith, 39, and Capaldi, 29, on the famous red sofa.
‘When we were all talking during the broadcast, Domhnall made a light-hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos,’ she explained in a lengthy Instagram post.
‘He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an *idea*.’
One week after the show, Swift sent Gleeson a script she had written for the Opalite video which would see him in the starring role.
Taylor Swift has revealed how her star-studded music video for Opalite came to be
The new music video features a host of A-list stars, including Domhnall Gleeson (pictured)
‘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,’ she continued.
‘Like a school group project but for adults and it isn’t mandatory.’
Swift said she was delighted that everyone from the episode – including talk show host Norton, 62, – agreed to appear in the shoot.
‘I had more fun than I ever imagined,’ Swift added. ‘Made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices.
‘It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.’
Opalite is a hit song from the 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl.
Swift’s Graham Norton Show episode aired October 3, the same day her album Life of a Showgirl was released.
During the show, she showed off her engagement ring and was asked about wedding plans with her husband-to-be Travis Kelce.
Singer Lewis Capaldi also makes a cameo in the video, which was released on Friday
Swift has revealed she was inspired after her October appearance on The Graham Norton Show
She said that Gleeson had made a light-hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos, so she decided to take action
‘I had more fun than I ever imagined,’ Swift said of filming the video
‘You’ll know. I want to do the album stuff first, and the wedding is what happens after in terms of planning,’ she told Norton.
‘I think it will be fun to plan.’
She also revealed that her album was a secret passion project behind the scenes of her historic Eras Tour.
Asked if all the songs are inspired by her life, Swift said: ‘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.’
Swift appeared on the Graham Norton Show in October to promote Life of a Showgirl
She invited all her fellow guests from the episode – and host Norton – to star in the music video
Reminded that she once said she only wrote songs she can easily sing, she added: ‘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 also revealed that her dad was particularly excited about the track Opalite and that it is 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 said.
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