J.Lo has built an incredible career for herself as a singer, but also conquered Hollywood along the way. Her impressive performance in the 2019 film 'Hustlers,' starring other big names like Keke Palmer, Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, and Julia Stiles, even had Oscar buzz.
Justin Timberlake is always remembered first as a musician or comedy actor, but he's trying out his first dramatic role in the film 'Palmer,' a coming-of-age story about an ex-convict who takes care of an abandoned boy, and it's set to be a real tearjerker.
Queen Latifah exploded onto the TV scene as the lead role in vigilante drama series 'The Equalizer.' The show is a remake of the 1980s series, which later became a Denzel Washington film franchise, and in it Latifah plays Robyn McCall, a former CIA operative who seeks justice for those who can’t find it anywhere else. The show was reportedly created with the pioneering musician in mind as the first female equalizer. According to the Washington Post, Latifah is only the fourth Black woman to headline an hour-long network drama.
Lady Gaga had already made her entrance to Hollywood with 'A Star is Born', but the singer is also in Ridley Scott’s 'House of Gucci' movie with Adam Driver, who plays Italian fashion heir Maurizio Gucci. Gaga herself plays Gucci’s ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted of plotting his murder in 1995.
The film is based on Sara Gay Forden’s book 'The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed,' and also stars Jeremy Irons, Jared Leto, and Al Pacino.
'Hustlers' gained a lot of traction among audiences who are impressed with J-Lo's range. Previously she's had roles in 'Selena,' 'Maid in Manhattan,' 'The Back-up Plan,' 'The Wedding Planner,' and more.
The rapper made her film debut in 'Hustlers,' putting the skills she learned from her previous career as a stripper to good use.
FXX's comedy 'Dave' starring Lil Dicky follows a neurotic man in his late 20s who convinces himself he's going to be one of the best rappers of all time, and the second season was a star-studded affair. In addition to appearances by Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, Doja Cat made her TV debut as someone whom Dave sets his sights on.
The singer is also set to star in his own yet-to-be-named film, which he also co-wrote alongside Reza Fahim and Trey Edward Shults (the latter of whom will also direct), and produced. 'Wednesday' actress Jenna Ortega will co-star alongside Tesfaye and serve as an executive producer on this mysterious film which is currently in production in LA, according to ET. Tesfaye will also be scoring the film alongside Daniel Lopatin, who scored 'Uncut Gems,' the biggest movie to date that Tesfaye has appeared in.
We all got a taste of Eminem's acting skills with '8 Mile,' but he hasn't had a big acting role since 2002. Rapper 50 Cent confirmed Eminem's return to the screen with a guest starring role in his Starz drama, 'Black Mafia Family,' which is inspired by the real-life story of brothers Demetrius Flenory and Terry Flenory, founders of the titular drug and money laundering organization. Unlike Eminem's appearances in TV and film of the past years, in things like 'Entourage,' 'The Interview,' and 'Funny People,' he doesn't play himself in 'BMF,' but rather former teenage FBI informant White Boy Rick.
Latin Grammy-winning Bad Bunny entered the acting arena with a bang, featuring in the Brad Pitt-led 2022 action thriller 'Bullet Train.' Directed by David Leitch ('Atomic Blonde'), the film follows five assassins on a high-speed train whose assigned targets are related, and the cast includes stars Sandra Bullock, Joey King, Andrew Koji, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, Michael Shannon, and Logan Lerman. He's also been listed as a cast member in Kevin Hart's upcoming movie 'American Sole.'
The singer appeared in cult films including 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and 'Fight Club.'
Harry Styles is a busy musician, stirring audiences hearts with his 'Watermelon Sugar,' but he's also been making big leaps in his acting career. He was cast in Marvel's 'The Eternals' as Thanos' brother, a mischievous womanizer. Styles also starred in the psychological thriller 'Don't Worry Darling,' directed by former girlfriend Olivia Wilde, and the romantic drama 'My Policeman,' directed by Michael Grandage. He definitely has range!
The premiere of the series '1883' arrived on December 19, 2021, and fans got to see a whole different side of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. For those who knew them by their family-friendly country music, their characters of James and Margaret Dutton are a far cry. The country superstars are presented as raw, brutal, authoritarian, and totally stripped of their usual glamor. The series is a prequel to 'Yellowstone' and follows the Dutton family's long journey from Texas to Montana, where they will set up the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch that serves as the setting in Kevin Costner's series.
JoJo first broke onto the music scene when she was just 13 years old with her self-titled debut album, whose breakout smash 'Leave (Get Out)' made her the youngest-ever solo artist to have a debut No.1 single in the US. In 2022, she took to the screen in a recurring role on the CW's 'All American' as Sabine, a world famous recording artist who’s been making music since she was 10 years old, Deadline reports. Sabine is searching for a new sound and decides to collaborate with a young, up-and-coming producer. JoJo has also been making her comeback to music in the past few years, and she's no stranger to acting—she's starred in films like 'Aquamarine' and 'RV' back in 2006—though she'll be able to make a name for herself in TV now.
The Foo Fighters took to the silver screen in 2022 with horror-comedy film 'Studio 666.' It tells the story of the famed band moving into a mansion to record their 10th album, where frontman Dave Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the band members' lives. “It is something I never wanted to or expected to do. It just kinda happened,” Grohl admitted to the NY Post. They were recording their 10th studio album, 2021’s 'Medicine at Midnight,' at a "creepy old house" in Los Angeles anyway, and "It snowballed into a full-length feature film and just kind of took off, man, like a crazy train," Grohl explained. He added that they just started calling their friends to take part, and the film will see the likes of Whitney Cummings, Will Forte, Jeff Garlin, and even Lionel Richie.
After a long film hiatus, Swift returned to the big screen to appear in the 2022 historical drama 'Amsterdam.' Set in the 1930s, the movie stars Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington as three friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most outrageous plots in US history. The ensemble cast also features Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert De Niro, Zoe Saldana, Chris Rock, and of course, Taylor Swift. The trailer shows a teary-eyed Swift wearing a black dress and veil. The film is directed by David O'Russell, known for critical hits like 'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'American Hustle.'
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, continuously proves he's so much more than one of the top pop stars in the world. He teamed up with 'Euphoria' creator Sam Levinson to co-write, executive produce, and star in an upcoming HBO series called 'The Idol.' According to Variety, the show, expected to air in 2023, "follows a female pop singer who starts a romance with an enigmatic L.A. club owner who is the leader of a secret cult." Tesfaye previously wrote and starred in an episode of the popular animated series 'American Dad' in 2020. He also played himself on the big screen in the critically acclaimed film 'Uncut Gems' (2019).
Billie Eilish has accomplished so much before hitting the legal age to drink, so it's not surprising that having conquered music already she's trying her hand at other creative pursuits. Eilish made her acting debut on March 17 in the Prime Video series 'Swarm,' created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. The show focuses on a young woman named Dre, played by Dominique Fishback, whose obsession with a pop star takes her to dark places. Eilish appears in the trailer as a mysterious hypnotist who seems to have nefarious intentions. The focus of Dre's obsession seems to be based on Beyoncé, with the name 'Swarm' even taking inspiration from her hardcore fanbase—the BeyHive.
Carey had already released seven albums when she starred in 'Glitter' in 2001, which was panned by critics, but she later redeemed her acting chops in 'Precious.'
See also: Famous actors who are also musicians
Dua Lipa is currently enjoying worldwide success as a pop star, but she has decided it's time to diversify. In fresh posters for Greta Gerwig's upcoming 'Barbie' movie, the singer made a surprise appearance as a mermaid-inspired Barbie doll. She joins an impressive star-studded cast of Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan, Alexandra Shipp, Ritu Arya, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, and more. The hotly anticipated film arrives in theaters July 21.
The singer will also appear in the forthcoming spy thriller 'Argylle' alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Bryce Dallas Howard, John Cena, and more.
Celebrities are often known for doing one thing, whether it's singing, acting, or making some seriously scandalous decisions, but many are secretly capable of much more. Of course, not all musicians who venture on-screen achieve fame, and some indeed find shame, but it takes courage to try something new under the careful eye of critics who are poised to tell them not to quit their day job.
Curious? Click through to see the artists who took their talents to the big screen.
Famous musicians who got into acting
Dua Lipa makes surprise appearance as Mermaid Barbie in new posters for Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie'
TV Musicians
Dua Lipa is currently enjoying worldwide success as a pop star, but she has decided it's time to diversify. In fresh posters for Greta Gerwig's upcoming 'Barbie' movie, the singer made a surprise appearance as a mermaid-inspired Barbie doll. She joins an impressive star-studded cast of Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan, Alexandra Shipp, Ritu Arya, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, and more. The hotly anticipated film arrives in theaters July 21.
The singer will also appear in the forthcoming spy thriller 'Argylle' alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Bryce Dallas Howard, John Cena, and more.
Celebrities are often known for doing one thing, whether it's singing, acting, or making some seriously scandalous decisions, but many are secretly capable of much more. Of course, not all musicians who venture on-screen achieve fame, and some indeed find shame, but it takes courage to try something new under the careful eye of critics who are poised to tell them not to quit their day job.
Curious? Click through to see the artists who took their talents to the big screen.