Yesterday, Billie Eilish confirmed rumors that had been swirling around, that she had landed an acting role in Donald Glover and Janine Nabers’ new Amazon Prime Video series Swarm, which premiered today (March 17). Given that this was Eilish’s live-action acting debut (after her The Simpsons short), it was unclear how good of an actor she would be, but it seems like everybody thinks she nailed it.
Warning: spoilers for Swarm are below.
Nabers told Rolling Stone that Eilish’s cult leader character Eva was inspired by Keith Raniere, leader of the NXIVM cult and corporation who was sentenced to 120 years in prison in 2020. Nabers also said of Eilish and Dominique Fishback’s performance in the fourth episode, “She came in and their chemistry was really wonderful. This show, in terms of women and violence, is so empowering for me, because you see it from such a masculine standpoint usually in the history of film and TV. To subvert that with this, and with Billie, was great.”
Fishback also said of Eilish, “She’s so respectful of the craft. She came in with ideas, wanting to talk about it, being game to rehearse. I think she’s wonderful. I’m such a fan of her as a person due to what I experienced with her on set.”
billie eilish as eva, SWARM (2023) pic.twitter.com/0Dp4Xhx5ZP
— billie archive (@archivesbe) March 17, 2023
Eilish fans were similarly laudatory of Eilish’s performance, offering plenty of compliments about her acting skills.
oh billie eilish took acting classes for sure she’s eating this up
— 5hahem aka Dr. Durag (@shaTIRED) March 17, 2023
But also Billie eilish should step into the acting game seriously because she’s GOOD??? #swarm
— 🐶 (@anaialator_) March 17, 2023
In particular, fans made note of the moments in which Eilish kisses other women.
Eva, personagem de Billie Eilish em #SWARM, lascando dando um lindo beijo beijando sua amada esposa companheira parceira mulher noiva namorada ficante peguete amiga menina mulher pic.twitter.com/3uGxGaiJYl
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023
Momento tenso entre Eva, personagem de Billie Eilish, e Dre/Kayla, personagem de Dominique Fishback, em #SWARM. pic.twitter.com/mdbhJKjC9s
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023
can we talk about how lucky this lady is to be the only girl to freely kiss BILLIE EILISH??? pic.twitter.com/uH6SNYUMaW
— niyah 𝜗𝜚 (@ijustwonderr) March 17, 2023
I HAVE SEEN BILLIE EILISH KISS A GIRL WITH MY OWN 2 EYES I CAN DIE HAPPY pic.twitter.com/9lq4ZzSVB1
— niyah 𝜗𝜚 (@ijustwonderr) March 17, 2023
Check out some more clips from the episode below.
Primeira aparição de Billie Eilish em #Swarm. pic.twitter.com/O0XIUGN8Ag
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023
Eva, personagem de Billie Eilish em #Swarm, olhando toda boiola para a querida Kayla/Dre, fazendo jus ao título de sapatão que a personagem carrega. pic.twitter.com/h86d5I6miP
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023
Na íntegra cena de Billie Eilish, como Eva, que aparece no trailer de #SWARM pic.twitter.com/O3VbnqtSq5
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023
Billie Eilish, como Eva, servindo atuação ao lado de Dominique Fishback, como Dre/Kayla, em #SWARM. pic.twitter.com/xGVnzeWjiq
— Acervo QG Billie Eilish (@AcervoQGBE) March 17, 2023