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It was only a matter of time before Taylor Swift found her way into the movie-musical scene. She’s making her big-screen debut later this year, in the ~purrfect~ title for her: Cats.
News of the film initially broke in July 2018, but there remained plenty of speculation as to which fabulous feline Tay would be portraying. Many suspected that she’d take on the role of Bombalurina, the flirty and glamorous cat, and it turns out that those fans were entirely correct. In an Instagram post on January 22, Taylor confirmed the news via a selfie with her dressing-room door, proudly displaying the name of her Cats role. It's official!
If you’ve never seen a production of Cats, I don’t know what to say, other than you’ve been living your life all wrong. Others might tell you differently, since Cats is a weirdly polarizing musical; the theater community has been divided over it for years, with some loving it (hi!) and others absolutely despising it. (How could you hate it, though? It's a musical about singing and dancing kitties! But I digress.)
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Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the musical tells the story of a group of mysterious “Jellicle” cats, all with different (and vibrant) personalities. At the heart of the musical is Grizabella (played by Jennifer Hudson in the upcoming film), an elder cat who yearns for her youthful days and dreams of being reborn. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats made its Broadway debut in 1982 and ran for nearly two decades, earning multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
As for Taylor’s role of Bombalurina, the character is known for being pretty mischievous and flirtatious, always seeking out the spotlight whenever possible. She can sometimes come off as arrogant and cruel, especially when interacting with Grizabella, but deep down, Bombalurina has a good heart. In the stage production, she’s often seen with her BFF and sidekick: Demeter, another cat with a similarly sassy personality, but one who is much less brazen than Bombalurina. (From the Cats IMDB page, it doesn’t look like Demeter is cast yet; might we suggest Taylor’s IRL bestie Selena Gomez? Just an idea.)
Many productions portray Bombalurina as an orange-red cat, wearing a skin-tight, rust-colored bodysuit and a spiked collar. Her makeup is often complete with a smoky cat-eye (Taylor's already got that down), black-and-white spots, and red lipstick (Tay's signature beauty move).
The film, which is slated to hit theaters December 20, 2019, also stars Idris Elba, as Macavity the Mystery Cat; Rebel Wilson, as Jennyanydots; James Corden, as Bustopher Jones; and Dame Judi Dench, as Old Deuteronomy, the leader of the Jellicle cats.
So, to recap, Taylor is starring in a movie musical. As a cat. One with a flirty and mischievous personality, yet also a heart of gold. Honestly, could you think of a more fitting movie for her? Here’s hoping there are many more BTS pictures to come … including her makeup and costume, please and thank you.
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Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Taylor Swift Is Going to Be in a Cats Movie Musical, Because of Course She Is
