FKA Twigs Faces Herself in ‘The Crow’—And Finds It ‘Beautiful’
FKA Twigs is ready to breathe easy.
On Monday night, the Grammy-nominated artist premiered her upcoming album, “Eusexua,” at a cozy listening event in New York. The following day, Twigs shared her excitement over Zoom, stating, “It was truly amazing. I woke up feeling like a huge burden has been lifted.”
She expressed her appreciation for being able to release her new film this same week: “The Crow” (hitting theaters Friday), a reimagining of the 1994 gothic superhero film featuring Brandon Lee. This supernatural love story revolves around Eric (played by Bill Skarsgård), a young man who literally journeys to hell and back to rescue his girlfriend, Shelly (Twigs), after she is murdered by a gang.
While the film features intense violence, it also reveals a surprisingly tender romance as the couple connect through shared traumas and a deep desire for life. “It’s beautifully flawed,” Twigs remarks, “but it feels genuine, profound, and immediate.”
FKA Twigs Discovers ‘To Face Myself’ During ‘The Crow’ Production
For Twigs, 36, whose real name is Tahliah Barnett, making “The Crow” was a therapeutic journey. She made her feature film debut in 2019’s “Honey Boy,” alongside Shia LaBeouf. Their brief romance ended with Twigs suing LaBeouf in late 2020, alleging sexual battery and emotional distress—claims he has denied, and the case is slated for trial in October.
When she met with “Crow” director Rupert Sanders in early 2022, Twigs was not on the hunt for acting opportunities. Instead, she sought change: “I viewed it as a fantastic chance to escape the repetitive cycle I was stuck in. Shelly experienced that too, allowing me to express many of my aspirations through her,” she explains.
Sanders was impressed by Twigs after seeing her poignant “Cellophane” music video and did not require her to audition. “She possesses a captivating presence; she felt ethereal and enchanting,” he shared. “It was crucial for me that we fell in love with Shelly and collectively mourned her death with Eric.”
Twigs learned from playing Shelly that “I truly deserve to be loved in a beautiful, gentle, and respectful manner,” revealing she is currently dating photographer Jordan Hemingway. “This might sound like a given, but portraying Shelly made me realize that everyone deserves to experience pure love, whether it’s romantic or platonic.”
“I don’t wish to attribute all my healing to ‘The Crow,’” she continues, “but it undeniably sparked something within me: a newfound belief in myself.” During the filming in Prague, Sanders often arranged for screenings of their footage for the cast and crew at a theater. Watching herself portray someone as raw and exposed as Shelly proved oddly therapeutic.
“I think I needed to confront myself,” Twigs explains. “It was a surreal life experience where I didn’t completely know who I was at that moment, but then I faced myself on a large screen and learned from it. It’s exceedingly strange, yet I found it beneficial.”
In her spare time, she also delved into the lively techno music scene in Prague, which ultimately influenced her first studio album since 2019’s “Magdalene.” Twigs states, “The upcoming music would not be the same if not for my experiences during ‘The Crow.’ It’s been a transformative project for me. I believe the universe recognized that I needed this.”
FKA Twigs Pursues Film and TV after Her New Album
After “The Crow,” Twigs plans to continue expanding her presence in film and television. Reflecting on her creative process, she states, “COVID was somewhat of a creative wipeout for me, as I rely on in-person collaboration.”
She mentions that recently, she has been deeply involved in developing a martial arts series for FX, inspired by her music video “Sad Day.”
The British singer is currently filming “The Carpenter’s Son” alongside Nicolas Cage. This horror flick explores the early years of Jesus Christ. She shares, “What we’re making is entirely unique. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it.” She adds, “From shooting in the biblical desert of Greece to now being in a lovely New York hotel, I find myself thinking, ‘Wow, my life is wild.’”
With her extensive background in creating music videos, Twigs aspires to one day write and direct a feature film. “It’s a goal I contemplate regularly,” she notes, “but I want my message to be truly significant.”
She is eager to work with visionary directors like Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”), Claire Denis (“High Life”), and Céline Sciamma (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”), whom she admires for their boldness and instinctual artistry.
“I’ve always maintained that when everyone is going in one direction, I aim to take the path less traveled,” says Twigs, who rose to fame with her groundbreaking album “LP1” in 2014. “To pursue my craft, I must be determined. I want my artistic vision to be so focused and direct, like a laser cutting through.”
She wouldn’t even think of offering her younger self any advice. “Honestly, that young woman wouldn’t heed anything I said,” Twigs laughs. “She would’ve replied, ‘You know what? I’m all set. I’m on my journey.’”