Cara Delevingne Plays a Homeless Drifter in Her First Music Video Role in Three Years
Well before Cara Delevingne made her big-screen debut, in 2012’s Anna Karenina, she was a music video star: She made her tiny-screen debut in 2010, in Bryan Ferry’s “You Can Dance.” But not since her turn in the Taylor Swift revenge fantasy “Bad Blood,” in 2015, had Delevingne lent her talents to another musician’s song (her own video for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets aside)—until this week, when the Spencer Lee Band unveiled the visual accompaniment for “River Water,” a track off the band’s recently released self-titled debut album.
It’s decidedly more somber than her previous video efforts—including appearances in music videos for Die Antwoord and Rita Ora. In the new video, Delevingne plays a homeless drifter on the streets of Los Angeles, her hair cut short and her eyes rimmed with dark circles. She wanders the streets clutching a cardboard sign soliciting change; frequently, she lights up a wad of tin foil to get high. When a stranger drops a couple of coins in her lap, her eyes light up with visible relief—this is how she’ll replenish her supply. The whole thing culminates in a dance sequence, Delevingne twirling, leaping, and clawing at her shirt on a rooftop while Lee wails the closing bars of the song.
“Her story is my story,” a caption reads at the end of the video, alluding to frontman Lee’s own period of homelessness and substance abuse. He headed west from Kansas to pursue a career in music, but ended up living on the streets in Los Angeles for three years, per People, which premiered the video; in 2017, the manager Scooter Braun, who also represents Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, among others, scooped him up and negotiated a deal with Republic Records.
Delevingne “completely nailed the role,” Lee told People. (In fact, despite its four-minute length, it’s definitely a meatier part than, say, Sergeant Laureline in Luc Besson’s Valerian.) “I put it out in hopes it will raise awareness and compassion.” See the full video, below.
A Look Back at Cara Delevingne’s Best Runway Moments
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear spring/summer 2019 on September 28, 2018, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Burberry show during London Fashion Week February 2018 at Dimco Buildings on February 17, 2018, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the TopShop Unique show during London Fashion Week spring/summer 2015 on September 14, 2014, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Givenchy show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear spring/summer 2015 on September 28, 2014, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Stella McCartney show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear spring/summer 2015 on September 29, 2014, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Burberry Prorsum ready-to-wear fall/winter 2014–2015 show at London Fashion Week AW14 at Perks Fields, Kensington Gardens, on February 17, 2014, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Model Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week haute-couture spring/summer 2014 on January 21, 2014, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Stella McCartney show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear fall/winter 2014–2015 on March 3, 2014, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear fall/winter 2014–2015 on March 4, 2014, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Unique show during London Fashion Week SS14 at TopShop Show Space on September 15, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Peter Pilotto show during London Fashion Week SS14 at Victoria House on September 16, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Burberry Prorsum show at London Fashion Week spring/summer 2014 at Kensington Gardens on September 16, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear spring/summer 2014 on October 1, 2013, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during Stella McCartney show as part of the Paris Fashion Week women’s wear spring/summer 2014 at Palais Garnier on September 30, 2013, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Lexington Avenue Armory on November 13, 2013, in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Issa London show during London Fashion Week fall/winter 2013–14 at Somerset House on February 16, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Matthew Williamson show during London Fashion Week fall/winter 2013–14 at the Royal Opera House on February 17, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Peter Pilotto show during London Fashion Week fall/winter 2013–14 at TopShop Show Space on February 18, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Burberry Prorsum show during London Fashion Week fall/winter 2013–14 at Kensington Gardens on February 18, 2013, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Iceberg show during Milan Fashion Week women’s wear fall/winter 2013–14 on February 22, 2013, in Milan, Italy. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne poses on the runway during the Chanel fall/winter 2013–14 ready-to-wear show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Grand Palais on March 5, 2013, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Emilio Pucci ready-to-wear fall/winter 2013–2014 fashion show as part of Milan Fashion Week women’s wear fall/winter 2013–14 on February 23, 2013, in Milan, Italy. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2013–14 ready-to-wear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 6, 2013, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Marc Jacobs show during spring 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lexington Avenue Armory on September 12, 2013, in New York City. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne on the catwalk by Giles on day four of London Fashion Week spring/summer 2013, at Stationer’s Hall on September 17, 2012, in London, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Emilio Pucci show as a part of Milan Fashion Week women’s wear spring/summer 2013 on September 22, 2012, in Milan, Italy. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Cacharel spring/summer 2013 show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Grand Palais on September 29, 2012, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway during the Costume National spring/summer 2013 show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Les Beaux-Arts de Paris on September 30, 2012, in Paris, France. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Chanel: Metiers d’Art fashion show at Linlithgow Palace on December 4, 2012, in Linlithgow, Scotland. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
