Lewis Capaldi expresses heartfelt thanks to Taylor Swift for casting him as a photographer in her star-studded “Opalite” music video.
Star-Packed Music Video Inspired by Chat Show Appearance
The 36-year-old pop icon recently unveiled the Nineties-themed video, which reunites her with fellow guests from last year’s Graham Norton Show: Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, Domhnall Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Greta Lee.
The concept emerged during the October broadcast when Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson, 42, jokingly expressed his desire to appear in a Taylor Swift music video. Taylor Swift seized the idea, crafting a storyline around surreal romances—Domhnall with a cactus and Taylor with a rock—that converge through a magical Opalite spray bottle.
Graham Norton, 62, features in a promotional scene for a rival spray, while Cillian Murphy, 49, stars in an Opalite advert. Lewis Capaldi, 29, captures shots of Taylor and Domhnall, with Greta Lee, 42, and Jodie Turner-Smith, 39, appearing on retro TV screens.
Taylor Swift Shares Behind-the-Scenes Inspiration
On Instagram, Taylor Swift explained that the video idea “crash landed into my imagination” during the Graham Norton Show appearance, promoting her album The Life of a Showgirl, which features the “Opalite” track.
“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 wrote. “He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an idea.”
One week later, Taylor sent Domhnall a custom script placing him in the lead role and invited the other guests, including host Graham Norton, to join. “I had more fun than I ever imagined,” she added. “Made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.”
All participants agreed to take part. The episode aired on October 3, coinciding with the album release. Taylor showcased her engagement ring and discussed wedding plans with fiancé Travis Kelce, saying, “You’ll know. I want to do the album stuff first, and the wedding is what happens after in terms of planning. I think it will be fun to plan.”
Lewis Capaldi’s Grateful Response and Fan Frenzy
Lewis Capaldi shared Instagram photos from the shoot, captioning them: “Thank you for having me @taylorswift ❤️x.”
Fans rave about the ’90s retro aesthetic, vintage outfits, and scenes like Taylor on a swing with a rock amid aerobic dancers. A standout item—an ivory sweatshirt featuring a cat clinging to a tree limb—has sparked obsession.
“I need this sweatshirt right now, it is meowfully wonderful, I am obsessed,” one fan posted on X. Another wrote, “I am going cats*** over this top, please tell me universe where to buy it ASAP, I need this in my life.”
Taylor Swift, a known cat enthusiast, owns three felines: Scottish Folds Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson, plus Ragdoll Benjamin Button, named after characters from Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order: SVU, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
