A Brief History of Taylor Swift's Acting Career — Way Before Cats

Swifties, we have some purr-fect news for you! Taylor Swift, international pop star and well-documented feline lover, will be playing the one and only Bombalurina in the live-action film adaptation of Cats. Though this is indeed exciting news, it isn't the singer's first time on set. We all know that her English boyfriend Joe Alwyn is an actor, but Taylor has had a reputation on big and small screens over the years. And no, we're not talking about her highly elaborate and beautiful music videos (though those are fun and worth checking out as well). From a dark and grisly cameo on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to a fun and frothy support role in Valentine's Day, here are all of Swift's acting gigs that every true fan should know.

     

1. Haley Jones in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2009)

    Way back in 2009, Taylor booked her first TV role on CSI in the episode "Turn, Turn, Turn" shortly after the release of her still mostly country pop album, Fearless. She doesn't have a happily ever after on CSI because well, it's CSI. On the procedural, the singer guest starred as Haley Jones, the teenage daughter of tawdry Vegas motel owners.

          

2. Felicia Miller in Valentine's Day (2009)

   

      Taylor plays a doting high school girlfriend to Taylor Lautner in Valentine's Day. (Yup, this was the era of Taylor times two!) As far as rom-com roles go, hers is pretty goofy and mostly for giggles in this ensemble cast feature that includes Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, and Jennifer Garner. For the movie, she also wrote two fun, poppy love songs for the film, "Today Was a Fairytale" and "Jump Then Fall." Oh, and Tay has a hilarious little dance routine in the movie that may or may not be a teaser for "Shake It Off."

         

3. Herself in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)

        Taylor is her peak country belle here, performing the charming, breezy "Crazier" in a small part of the movie based on the popular Disney Channel show starring Miley Cyrus. She's technically herself, but we're keeping this role here anyway since it is in a feature-length film. The movie might have been a contender for the Razzies, but Disney fans are going to love the talent and catchy songs (including "The Climb") nonetheless.

      

          

4. Audrey in The Lorax (2012)

   

    Swift enlisted in this adorable adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic picture book about the plight of the trees. She voices a young environmentalist named Audrey who longs to see a real tree (and who's also the love interest of the main character). Her fellow voice castmates include Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Danny DeVito, and Betty White.

     

5. Elaine in New Girl (2013)

 You might know that Jess from New Girltakes comfort in listening to Taylor Swift alone post-breakup. So, it was only natural that the show enlisted the megatalented pop star herself for a brief gig in the episode "Elaine's Big Day." As the title suggests, she plays Elaine, the long-time love interest of Cece's then-fiance Shivrang. Unlike Prince on season three, Taylor doesn't put on a musical performance, but her character gets an ending that'll keep fans happy for her, and for Schmidt and Cece.

     

6. Rosemary in The Giver (2014)

The country pop star made a cameo in The Giver, another beloved children's book adaptation, albeit a much darker one than The Lorax. The story is about a dystopian society that has eliminated pain by converting people to "Sameness" and stripping them of emotional depth. Donning a brunette wig, Taylor plays Rosemary, the daughter of The Giver (Jeff Bridges) who has a rather tragic fate.

     

       Here are the best Taylor Swift lyrics for your Instagram captions.

LOVE LYRICS

"I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you." — 'Enchanted'

"I wanna be your end game. I wanna be your first string. I wanna be your A-Team." — 'End Game'

"And all the pieces fall right into place. Getting caught up in a moment, lipstick on your face." — 'So It Goes'

"I loved you in secret. First sight, yeah, we love without reason." — 'Dancing With Our Hands Tied'

"Starry eyes sparkin' up my darkest night." — 'Call It What You Want'

"You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye and I got that red lip classic thing that you like." — 'Style'

"Baby, I know places we won't be found." — 'I Know Places'

"You can hear it in the silence. You can feel it on the way home. You can see it with the lights out. You are in love, true love." — 'You Are In Love'

"And I never saw you coming and I’ll never be the same." — 'State of Grace'

"And darling, it was good never looking down. And right there where we stood was holy ground." — 'Holy Ground'

"All I know since yesterday is everything has changed." — 'Everything Has Changed'

"The whole place was dressed to the nines and we were dancing like we're made of starlight." — 'Starlight'

" You are the best thing that's ever been mine." — 'Mine'

"I see sparks fly whenever you smile." — 'Sparks Fly'

"You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess. It's a love story baby just say 'yes.'" — 'Love Story'

GIPHY

BFF LYRICS

"I was screaming, long live all the magic we made and bring on all the pretenders. One day, we will be remembered." — 'Long Live'

"Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you." — '22'

"We're getting stronger now, finding things they never found. They might be bigger but we're faster and never scared." — 'Change'

"I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams." — 'You Belong With Me'

"And soon enough you're best friends. Laughing at the other girls who think they're so cool." — 'Fifteen'

"The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming color." — 'Out of the Woods'

"So hey, let's be friends I’m dying to see how this one ends." — 'Blank Space'

"But if God forbid fate should step in and force us into a goodbye. If you have children someday, when they point to the pictures please tell them my name." — 'Long Live' 

SAVAGE LYRICS

"Ooh, look what you made me do." — 'Look What You Made Me Do'

"They say I did something bad. Then why's it feel so good?" — 'I Did Something Bad'

"You should take it as a compliment that I'm talking to everyone here but you." — 'Gorgeous'

"This is why we can't have nice things, darling. Because you break them." — 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things'

"'Cause, darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream." — 'Blank Space'

"You know it used to be mad love. So take a look what you've done, ’cause baby, now we've got bad blood." — 'Bad Blood'

"'Cause baby, I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me." — 'New Romantics'

"Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?" — 'Mean'

"She should keep in mind there is nothing I do better than revenge." — 'Better Than Revenge'

"So don't you worry your pretty little mind. People throw rocks at things that shine." — 'Ours'

GIPHY

BREAKUP LYRICS

"I'm perfectly fine, I live on my own. I made up my mind, I'm better off bein' alone." — 'King of My Heart'

"Why'd you have to go and lock me out when I let you in?' — 'All You Had to Do'

"You're thinking that I hate you now, 'cause you still don't know what I never said." — 'I Wish You Would'

"Say you'll see me again even if it's just in your wildest dreams." — 'Wildest Dreams'

"Losing him was blue like I'd never known. Missing him was dark grey, all alone. Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met. But loving him was red." — 'Red'

"I knew you were trouble when you walked in. So, shame on me now." — 'I Knew You Were Trouble'

"We are never, ever, ever, ever getting back together. Like, ever." — 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together'

"We had a beautiful magic love there. What a sad, beautiful, tragic love affair." — 'Sad Beautiful Tragic'

"I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me?" — 'Story of Us'

"I never thought we'd have a last kiss. Never imagined we'd end like this. Your name, forever the name on my lips." — 'Last Kiss'

"It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone. 'Cause I was there when you said forever and always." — 'Forever and Always'

"As far as I'm concerned you're just another picture to burn." — 'Picture To Burn'