‘She is a cat lady’ – Taylor Swift was the inspiration for Argylle film character

Jody Coffey

If it’s even a subtle nod to Taylor Swift, I’m there.

It seems like Taylor Swift is everywhere you look these days – that is not a complaint, it’s a fact.

From stages to screens to sports arenas, the singer’s presence can be felt across many different fields of entertainment.

The same applies to the film Argylle, which hits Irish cinemas this week.

The Bad Blood singer inspired one of its main characters, Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas-Howard.

Bryce Dallas Howard attends the World premiere of “Argylle” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on January 24, 2024 in London, England. Credit: Getty

The name Elly Conway is also the alias for the author who wrote the Argylle book and many fans of Taylor are convinced that she wrote it.

Byrce shut down the rumours while appearing on the Graham Norton show.

However, the actress did say that her character – an introverted spy novelist – does share similarities with the ‘Cruel Summer’ songstress.

“We can’t pretend she was involved, but the reality is she was in many ways a great inspiration,” she revealed.

“She is a cat lady. She’s got this awesome backpack with a cat in [it] that she walks around with.

“She loves a good argyle sweater, and there is a sort of unapologetic dorkiness about her. “That’s a little bit like what my character is like.”

Fan theories also suggest that Argylle was a Taylor creation. This was fuelled by the trailer, given the fact that she loves a good ‘easter egg’.

In the teaser, a Scottish Fold cat that bears a likeness to the singer’s famous feline, Meredith Grey, was the first to set off the speculation she was involved.

The cat can be seen in a carrier bag pack with a window much like the one used by the ‘Midnights’ singer in her Netflix documentary, ‘Miss Americana’.

Others theorised that Byrce’s red hair shared a strong resemblance to the one Taylor wore in the ‘All Too Well’ music video/short film.

Argylle director, Matthew Vaughn, however, recognising the intensity of the Swiftie fanbase, put the rumours to bed before it got out of control.

“It’s a really good book, and there is an Elly Conway who wrote the book, but it’s not Taylor Swift,” he said in an interview with Rolling Stone.

“And I say that because I imagine Taylor Swift has a load of people trying to jump on her bandwagon left, right and centre and I don’t want to be a part of that club.”

“I did read the conspiracies and I was like, ‘Wow, they don’t leave a stone unturned!’ but it’s not Taylor Swift. She definitely didn’t write the book.”

Argylle hits Irish cinemas on Friday (February 2nd) and also stars Dua Lipa, Henry Cavill, John Cena and Sam Rockwell.