2022 was an interesting year for Taylor Swift as she appeared in David O Russell's Amsterdam as a brief but integral character. While the period drama-comedy failed to make a mark at the box office (accruing over $31 million worldwide, via Box Office Mojo) or garner any critical love, Swift's special role was much talked about, even becoming the subject of several memes. Her casting and the reactions that it generated also went on to show the impact that Swift has on pop culture.
Swift isn't the only high-profile star in Amsterdam. The talented ensemble is led by Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington with the likes of Chris Rock, Rami Malek, Zoe Saldaña, and Anya Taylor-Joy appearing in the supporting cast. With the plot loosely based on an unbelievably true story from the 1930s, Amsterdam plays out as a murder mystery with the three lead characters following a trail of clues in a post-Depression era New York. With Taylor Swift's uber-rich Elizabeth Meekins entering the picture, the trio is led to a political conspiracy by fascist fanatics to overthrow American democracy.
Who Does Taylor Swift Play In Amsterdam?
Taylor Swift's role in Amsterdam can be described as an extended cameo as she appears at the start and dies soon after. Her character is named Elizabeth Meekins and is the daughter of Bill Meekins, a decorated US Army General-turned Senator, whose death is touched upon in the early scenes. While Bill's death by poisoning rouses no controversy initially, Washington's lawyer character Harold asks Bale's doctor protagonist Burt to perform an autopsy on him given Elizabeth's conviction in the fact that her father was murdered. Even though Elizabeth's theories are proved true by the ending of Amsterdam, she tragically dies after being fatally pushed into traffic by a hitman.
How Did Elizabeth Know About Burt And Harold?
In typical murder mystery fashion, Taylor Swift's character serves as the unknown benefactor who appoints Burt and Harold as unwilling investigators in the case of her father's death. But later in Amsterdam, it becomes quite clear that Elizabeth had done so on the advice of Margot Robbie's Valerie. A close associate to both men during their time in the First World War, Valerie knew both of them will be perfect for the job when Elizabeth (who is revealed to be her friend) grew distressed about her father's death. In this sense, Elizabeth's own death serves as a crucial plot point to bring together a gang of once-separated friends.
Why Taylor Swift's Role Is Important In Amsterdam
Despite her brief appearance, her death serves as a major catalyst for the rest of the events of Amsterdam. While Burt and Harold did have a hunch that the death of Bill (the commander of their regiment during the war) was orchestrated, Elizabeth's planned killing confirmed that somebody doesn't want them to come closer to the truth. With the two friends also being framed for her murder, they turn into fugitives who must unearth the mystery on their own wits. The death scene might have played out with a darkly comedic tone, but it does set most of the drama in motion.
Her death is also significant for it introduces Timothy Olyphant's Taron Milfax, the mysterious man who pushes Elizabeth to her death. Subtly covering his actions, the apparent hitman also points his fingers at Burt and Harold alleging them of the shocking murder. Milfax is later revealed to be working for the fanatic organization the Committee of Five. All in all, Taylor Swift might have some forgotten characters in the past, but her part in Amsterdam is relatively more important. Even if she might have come off as just a wealthy socialite, her hunch shows that she herself could have been an amateur sleuth much like the other leads.