Taylor Swift reportedly flew 3,500 miles in secret to film a new music video inside a shopping centre in Croydon.
The global superstar, 35, is said to have travelled from New Jersey to Hampshire by private jet last weekend for the top-secret shoot, which allegedly featured appearances from Lewis Capaldi and Domhnall Gleeson.
One of the more surprising filming locations was the partially derelict Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon, according to reports.
A source told The Sun: “This video was shrouded in secrecy, with Taylor’s security team working day and night to ensure she wasn't sighted at any point. It was like a military operation.
“But she IS the most powerful woman in pop, so if she wants to go unseen, she’ll make it happen.”
The video is reportedly for her track Elizabeth Taylor, with Swift choosing to shoot in London to honour the screen icon’s British roots. The singer dedicated the second song on her most recent album to the Hollywood legend, referencing her “violet eyes” and “white diamonds” and drawing parallels between their romantic histories.
Elizabeth Taylor was born in Hampstead, North London, in 1932 before moving to Los Angeles aged seven, and the new video is said to incorporate locations linked to her British heritage.
Another source told The Sun: “Taylor is super excited to be back in London filming for her new music video. Elizabeth Taylor is a British icon and Taylor wants to pay homage by shooting scenes in the capital.
“Taylor has always written about her love for London, and the video will capture different locations around the city.”
The track also nods to some of Taylor’s favourite haunts, including Portofino and the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris, where she and Richard Burton often stayed. Swift has spoken about “Portofino Orange” as a colour theme of her Showgirl era — a shade she wore frequently during the final dates of her Eras Tour.
