Taylor Swift recently spent a week in the UK filming a highly secretive holiday-themed music video, quietly moving between several London locations without being spotted.
The 35-year-old arrived in the UK from New Jersey via private jet, with security so tight that one crew member described it as “a military operation.” The video is rumoured to be linked to Opalite, a track from her recent album The Life Of a Showgirl.
With an estimated $1 million budget, the production was kept under wraps from the very first day. Filming kicked off at the Mildmay Club in Stoke Newington, where extras dressed in retro attire were seen leaving with props that hinted at a festive theme, including Christmas trees, glitter cannons, and tinsel. In place of traditional holiday drinks, banana milkshake stood in for eggnog, and grape juice replaced champagne for the celebratory scenes.
Swift’s team then moved to Croydon, taking over part of the Whitgift Centre to film what appeared to be holiday shopping sequences. Large screens were set up around the set to maintain secrecy, and performers were identified only by numbers.
Speculation has circulated that Lewis Capaldi and Domhnall Gleeson, both of whom appeared with Swift on The Graham Norton Show recently, made cameo appearances, although this has not been officially confirmed.
With principal filming now complete, the project has moved into post-production, and fans can expect the video to be released before Christmas, perfectly timed for the holiday season.
Opalite has personal significance for Swift, with many speculating the track reflects her relationship with fiancé Travis Kelce, whose birthstone is opal.