Lana Del Rey has discussed a possible acting career, revealing that she nearly starred in a movie as Sharon Tate, who was famously killed by Charles Manson’s cult of followers in 1969.
The singer, who released latest album ‘Honeymoon’ in September, spoke to Billboard about her acting ambitions in a new interview.
Asked if she would want to be in movies, Del Rey responded: “Well… I’m open to it all. James Franco asked me to be in three films that were going to be directed by a Spanish director, and I was hesitant.”
Explaining why the project never came into fruition, the singer continued: “I think he heard my hesitance and got scared. Someone wanted me to be Sharon Tate. I thought, ‘That’s so right.’ At that time, there were three Manson movies being talked about, but none were ever made. So maybe that was the answer.”
Derek Bremner/NMEElsewhere in the Billboard interview, Del Rey opened up about her struggles with anxiety and revealed she has a phobia of death.
“It’s hard for me sometimes to think about going on when I know we’re going to die. Something happened in the last three years, with my panic [attacks]… It got worse.”
She added: “I’ve always been prone to it. I remember being four years old and I’d just seen a show on TV where the person was killed. And I turned to my parents and said, ‘Are we all going to die?’ They said ‘Yes’, and I was totally distraught! I broke down in tears and said, ‘We have to move!'”
“I saw a therapist – three times. But I’m really most comfortable sitting in that chair in the studio, writing or singing.”
Asked whether having children would “chill her out”, Del Rey replied: “I don’t think so, but… Sometimes you just want to be able to enjoy the view. I think I’m really like my mother, in the sense that I make small lists. To calm myself down. I reward myself.”
“You know, ‘If I finish this, then I’ll do that’ – I’ll go for a walk on the beach or swim in the ocean. I go for swims and am actually shocked I do that. Because one thing I’m terrified of is sharks.”