She’s known for getting inside the head of difficult characters – having required the assistance of a psychiatric nurse on set while playing the notorious criminal Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci.
But Lady Gaga‘s next role – playing Harley Quinn in the highly-anticipated drama, Joker: Folie à Deux, alongside Joaquin Phoenix – is said to have pushed the 13-time Grammy winner to new extremes, forcing to her almost miss performing at this year’s Oscars.
A film insider tells DailyMail.com that Gaga, 37, went ‘full method’ to get into character as the Joker’s girlfriend, described as a ‘human dealing with bipolar trauma and mental health frailty’ and was still filming when the 95th Academy Awards took place in March.
Gaga is said to have let Oscar bosses know just 48 hours before show time that she would appear at the Hollywood event to perform Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick.
‘Gaga had spent the previous few weeks shooting many of the most intense film scenes in New York. Her head was fully in a space for Harley,’ the insider reveals of the project, which wrapped filming earlier this month.
‘It was not simply an easy ask to drop that commitment and fly to LA to sing at the Oscars. She didn’t commit because Joker was her life and central focus. It took a few requests from her team and the Oscar producers, before she agreed to play.
‘With Gaga so deep in character it was not that easy just to switch into pop star mode.
Hard work: Lady Gaga went ‘full method’ to get into character for the role of Harley Quinn in The Joker sequel (seen at the 2023 Oscars L and filming Joker sequel R)
The insider adds of her eventual makeup free performance: ‘She gave us a glimpse of Harley without saying anything. Everyone saw a vulnerable and emotional artist, not just singing a blockbuster theme song, but making a statement.’
When it comes to what fans can expect from the role, the insider says that Gaga is ‘determined to make Harley more than just a cartoonish screen character.’
‘She was focused on mapping out a complex human being, battling grief, long-term trauma and a desire to find a soul mate.
‘Throw in the bipolar issues and you have one hell of an acting task. She pushed herself to the extreme effectively living in the mindset of this multi faceted personality,’ the source adds.
The pop star also had to balance that character development with the challenge of singing musical numbers with the undertones of menace.
Gaga was also moved by Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance, which showed the titular villainous protagonist Arthur Fleck’s mental health journey in the 2019 film Joker.
Committed: Gaga was reportedly so obsessed with delivering a perfectly accurate interpretation of a ‘human dealing with bipolar trauma and mental health frailty’ that she stayed in character for months during filming (pictured with Joaquin Phoenix)
A Warner Brothers’ source added that Gaga’s buzz-worthy performance of Harley Quinn could earn her another Academy Award from early rushes seen by executives.
The insider added Gaga was able to communicate ‘in a unique way’ with co-star Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips that she was remaining in character on set.
‘It’s no understatement to say she lived Harley 24/7 talking, moving and embracing her frailties,’ they added.
‘She communicated with Todd and Joaquin in a unique way informing them that she was effectively Harley on set.
A fresh portray: One film insider exclusively told DailyMail.com that Gaga vowed to deliver a more multi-layered Quinn , rather than the cartoonish portrayal seen in Margot Robbie’s recent portrayals
Inspiring: Gaga was also moved by Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance, which showed the titular villainous protagonist Arthur Fleck’s mental health journey. in the 2019 film Joker
‘That commitment is something you rarely see in this business. It was her process and was breathtaking to watch. It is a very intimate portrayal, which will resonate with many people’s battle with mental welfare.
‘Without any disrespect to Margot’s appearances as Harley, this is a much more psychological adaptation.
‘Gaga’s Harley is an examination of the trials of modern day humanity.
‘And on top of that Gaga also had to balance that effort while singing during the film.
‘As one of our greatest live entertainers, she has always delivered monumental musical performances which have resonated with audiences.
‘This role pushes that skill to a new level, where viewers pick up on the intensity of Harley’s struggles, stress and oft deluded ways.’
The source smiled: ‘Gaga famously spoke Italian and acted like Patrizia Gucci for House Of Gucci for around a year, but this time it’s next level stuff. People are going to be utterly shocked and impressed. This is the type of effort which is Oscar-worthy.’
Memorable: Phoenix seen above in the 2019 film Joker, in which he won the best actor Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards
On a roll: Gaga previously dipped into method acting while speaking ‘Italian and acting like Patrizia Gucci for House Of Gucci for around a year’ (seen with Adam Driver while portraying Patrizia Reggiani)
The film recently wrapped, and on April 6, Gaga shared an official photo of her as Harley in Joker: Folie à Deux.
‘That’s a wrap,’ Gaga wrote on Instagram, signing the post ‘X, Harleen.’
The plot touches on the origin of Quinn from the Batman cartoons.
Her life as an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist, assigned to study the Joker, turns upside down when she falls in love with him instead.
Fans have to wait for the film’s release until October 4 2024.
