Lady Gaga reveals she had to shed her typical onstage 'bravado' for her portrayal of Harley Quinn in the 'Joker' sequel
On Friday, audiences will meet Lee Quinzel, Lady Gaga's rendition of Harley Quinn, in "Joker: Folie à Deux." This sequel introduces her as the Joker’s romantic interest from the DC comics.
Speaking to CNN, Gaga revealed the drastic transformation she underwent for this role, which merges a stripped-down musical with a sinister love saga between Arthur Fleck, the Joker (played by Joaquin Phoenix), and her character.
Gaga, whose true name is Stefani Germanotta, stated, "I endeavored to abandon all of the stagecraft and swagger that naturally define me as Gaga." This 13-time Grammy laureate and Oscar winner for "Shallow" in "A Star is Born" even relinquished her trained vocal methods to embody the role.
"I attempted to breathe incorrectly," she confided, noting her efforts to eschew traditional throat techniques employed during performances.
This endeavor births a character whose singing is airy and subdued, aligning seamlessly with Phoenix's own vocal style in their musical duets. Beyond music, she finds herself in sync with the Joker's penchant for chaos, embracing violence and arson with ease.
"Folie à Deux" follows the 2019 "Joker," where Phoenix clinched an Oscar for Best Actor. The predecessor's over $1 billion global earnings laid the foundation for this unexpected sequel.
"Joker: Folie à Deux," produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, premieres in theaters on Friday. Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, also owns Warner Bros. Pictures.
