BLACKPINK’s Jennie made her acting debut in the American HBO drama “The Idol,” a decision she made herself. According to multiple entertainment insiders on June 7th, Jennie received a direct casting offer from the show’s producer, American singer The Weeknd, and decided to join the cast. Although some opinions suggested that her agency, YG Entertainment, might be responsible for her appearance in the drama, insiders revealed that the decision was solely based on Jennie’s wishes.
An insider told TenAsia, “Jennie met The Weeknd in person and received the casting offer. She expressed her desire to be part of the project, fully aware of the role and acting parts she would be taking on, and had her own ideas about how to portray the character.”
“The Idol,” which was invited to the non-competitive section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, garnered significant attention as Jennie’s first acting challenge. Jennie took her first steps as an actress on the Cannes red carpet, attracting the attention of global fans.
Set in the music industry of Los Angeles, “The Idol” tells the story of a popular female pop singer and her love life. The cast includes The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of actor Johnny Depp), Troye Sivan, and Dan Levy. Jennie played the role of Dianne, a backup dancer for the protagonist Jocelyn, who dreams of becoming a pop star.
However, the unveiled “The Idol” received predominantly negative reviews. Critics pointed out issues such as explicit content, misogynistic portrayals, and male-centric sexual fantasies.
In her brief appearance of less than 10 minutes, many believed Jennie only showcased a provocative R-rated dance, making it difficult to evaluate her acting skills. Many viewers argue that the dance scene with male dancers excessively objectifies and sexualizes Asian women.
In a Cannes Film Festival interview, Jennie explained her decision to join “The Idol,” saying, “I’ve been a fan of Sam Levinson’s work for a long time, and I was fascinated by the story about the music industry. I thought I could bring something to this role.” She added, “I saw it as an opportunity to be myself and be brave. I didn’t train or prepare for anything. Sam wanted me to just be myself. I’ve never had an experience like this before. It felt like breaking down walls for myself.”
When asked about ‘What do you want the world to know about Jennie Ruby Jane?’, Jennie replied in the interview with Max, that it was ‘This is just the beginning’.
Bar the controversies, everyone will agree that Jennie looked absolutely stunning in the first episode of The Idol, We for sure are excited to see more of Actor Jennie in the future.
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