Famous musicians who got into acting -

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.

It's been a hot minute since we saw Taylor Swift on the big screen, but she's back for a highly anticipated historical drama due to premiere in November. 'Amsterdam' is set in the 1930s and 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 first 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.'  

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. Click through to see the artists who took their talents to the big screen. 

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The Foo Fighters -

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. “A friend of mine … had a meeting with these people that said that they want to make a horror film with Foo Fighters. I was like, ‘That’s the stupidest f–king idea I’ve ever heard in my life. There’s no way we’d do that s–t.’" But 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. 

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JoJo -

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. Now, she's taking 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.

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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill -

The premiere of the series '1883' arrived on December 19 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.

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Harry Styles -

Harry Styles is a busy musician, stirring audiences hearts with his 'Watermelon Sugar,' but he's also been making quiet and big leaps in his acting career. He's reportedly been cast in Marvel's 'The Eternals' as Thanos' brother, who is supposedly a mischievous womanizer.  Styles is also starring in the upcoming psychological thriller 'Don't Worry Darling,' directed by girlfriend Olivia Wilde, and the romantic drama 'My Policeman,' directed by Michael Grandage. He definitely has range! 

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Dua Lipa -

Dua Lipa is currently enjoying worldwide success as a pop star, but she's decided it's time to diversify. She has been cast in her first-ever acting role in the movie 'Argylle.' The upcoming spy thriller will also star Samuel L. Jackson, Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Bryce Dallas Howard, John Cena, and many more. Dua Lipa was reportedly so busy filming that she turned down her invitation to the prestigious Met Gala on September 13.  

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Bad Bunny -

Latin Grammy-winning Bad Bunny has entered the acting arena with a bang, particularly after the first footage of his role in the Brad Pitt-led action thriller 'Bullet Train' screened at the Las Vegas CinemaCon on August 23. 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.' 

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Eminem -

We all got a taste of Eminem's acting skills with '8 Mile,' but he hasn't had a big acting role since 2002. Now, the rapper is making his return. On August 17, 50 Cent confirmed that Eminem will have a guest starring role in his upcoming 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 will not be playing himself in 'BMF,' but rather former teenage FBI informant White Boy Rick. 

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The Weeknd -

The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is taking his talents to the small screen. The singer is teaming 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 "follows a female pop singer who starts a romance with an enigmatic L.A. club owner who is the leader of a secret cult." This isn't Tesfaye's first TV gig, however, as he 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). 

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Doja Cat -

On June 3, FXX released a new trailer for season two of their comedy 'Dave' starring Lil Dicky. The show 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 trailer for the second season proves it's going to be a star-studded affair. In addition to appearances by Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, Doja Cat makes her TV debut as someone whom Dave sets his sights on. It's uncertain how much screen-time the 'Say So' rapper will get, but it's certainly a new career move. 

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Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift had already made her grand Hollywood entrance with the poorly received 'Cats' in 2019. Besides 'Cats,' Swift previously starred in 'Valentine's Day' featuring an all-star cast, and she had a small role in 'The Giver' alongside Meryl Streep.

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Lady Gaga -

Lady Gaga had already made her entrance to Hollywood with 'A Star is Born', but the singer is also in Ridley Scott’s upcoming 'House of Gucci' movie with Adam Driver, who will play Italian fashion heir Maurizio Gucci. Gaga herself will play Gucci’s ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted of plotting his murder in 1995. 

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Lady Gaga -

The film is based on Sara Gay Forden’s book 'The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed,' and will also star Jeremy Irons, Jared Leto, and Al Pacino.

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Queen Latifah -

Queen Latifah recently 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.

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Justin Timberlake -

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. 

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Jennifer Lopez -

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. 

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Jennifer Lopez -

'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. 

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Cardi B -

The rapper made her film debut in 'Hustlers,' putting the skills she learned from her previous career as a stripper to good use.

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Lady Gaga - Though she'd notably appeared in episodes of 'American Horror Story,' her lead role in 'A Star Is Born' marked Gaga's entrance to Hollywood.

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Cher - Cher earned a Golden Globe nod for her role in 'Come Back to the Five and Dime,' she co-starred with Meryl Streep and Kurt Russell in 'Silkwood,' and won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in 'Moonstruck,' among her other acting feats.

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Ice Cube - The former member of rap group N.W.A. was hugely influential in hip-hop history, and his first acting role, in John Singleton's 'Boyz n the Hood,' has had nearly the same influence.

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Madonna - Less than a year after she released 'Like A Virgin,' Madonna also delivered one of her most iconic film roles in 'Desperately Seeking Susan.' She later won the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in 'Evita.'

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Justin Timberlake - After NSYNC had fizzled out, Timberlake won two Emmys for his guest spots on 'Saturday Night Live,' and starred in films like 'The Social Network,' 'Bad Teacher,' 'Friends With Benefits,' and 'Inside Llewyn Davis,' all while maintaining his music career.

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LL Cool J - After launching his career as a rapper in 1984, LL Cool J made his film debut in 'Wildcats,' alongside Wesley Snipes, Goldie Hawn, and Woody Harrelson, and later co-starred in 'Toys' with Robin Williams. 

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Queen Latifah - Queen Latifah is reportedly one of five hip-hop or R&B artists to ever receive an Academy Award nomination in an acting category, for 2003's 'Chicago.'

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Mark Wahlberg - After finding fame with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Wahlberg's breakthrough acting role was in 1995's 'The Basketball Diaries,' but it was his lead role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights' that cemented him in Hollywood.

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Rihanna - Though she appeared as herself in 2006's 'Bring It On: All or Nothing,' RiRi later took on bigger roles in films like 'Battleship,' 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,' and, most recently, 'Ocean's Eight.'

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Meat Loaf -

The singer appeared in cult films including 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and 'Fight Club.'

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Will Smith - Now a world-famous actor with a long filmography, many forget that Smith started as rapper Fresh Prince. After releasing his debut album, the sitcom was conceived, and he soon entered Hollywood's A-list, earning Oscar nods for 'Ali' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness.'

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Aaliyah - The late singer proved that she was multi-talented in the films 'Romeo Must Die' and 'Queen of the Damned,' the latter of which was released posthumously.

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Elvis Presley - The King of Rock 'n' Roll also made 31 films over his career, including 'Blue Hawaii,' 'King Creole,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' and 'Viva Las Vegas.'

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Björk - The singer notably starred in Lars von Trier's Palm d'Or-winning film 'Dancer in the Dark.'

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Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson had roles in 'The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps,' 'Why Did I Get Married?' and John Singleton's 'Poetic Justice' co-starring alongside…

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Tupac Shakur - Along with co-starring in 'Poetic Justice,' Tupac also starred in the films 'Juice' and 'Gang Related.'

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Jennifer Hudson - Two years after placing seventh on 'American Idol,' Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for her portrayal of Effie in 'Dreamgirls.' She was also handpicked by Aretha Franklin to play the late singer in the forthcoming biopic.

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Harry Styles - In 2017, the One Direction singer made his big-screen debut in Christopher Nolan's Academy Award-winning World War II epic 'Dunkirk.'

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Beyoncé - Destiny's Child was already a big deal when Beyoncé starred in her first major film, 'Austin Powers in Goldmember.' She notably starred in the Academy Award-winning 'Dreamgirls,' as well as 'Cadillac Records,' 'Obsessed,' and most recently 'The Lion King.'

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Michael Jackson - A fan of theatrics, Michael Jackson appeared in films including 'The Wiz' and 'Captain EO.'

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Brandy - Brandy hit her musical stride after her self-titled 1994 album, and she soon starred in the TV show 'Moesha.' She was also reportedly hand-picked by producer Whitney Houston to star in 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.'

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Harry Connick Jr. - The Grammy and Emmy-award winning singer has had roles in films like 'Independence Day,' 'Hope Floats,' 'The Iron Giant,' and 'P.S. I Love You.'

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Mandy Moore - Moore found fame at 15, with the release of her pop album 'So Real.' A couple years later she appeared in 'The Princess Diaries,' but the next year she had her most memorable on-screen appearance in 'A Walk to Remember'—that is, of course, until 'This Is Us.'

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Lenny Kravitz - The four-time Grammy Award-winner has had roles in films like  'Precious' and 'The Hunger Games.'

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Shania Twain - The Queen of Country Pop is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, and 2019 saw her major film debut in 'Trading Paint' alongside John Travolta.

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Ludacris - After becoming a hit on the charts in the late '90s and early '00s, Ludacris started acting for projects like 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' which led to his most notable role in the 'Fast and the Furious' series.

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Neil Young - Young is one of the most respected and prolific folk-rock musicians of the late 20th century. He dabbled in film, but most notably co-wrote, directed, and starred in 1982's 'Human Highway.'

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Ice-T - The rapper has played a police detective in 'New Jack City,' and a gang leader in both 'Ricochet' and 'Trespass.' He also had a lead role in 1994's 'Surviving the Game.'

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Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones singer has appeared in films including 'The Man from Elysian Fields' and 'Freejack.'

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Courtney Love - After she rose to prominence as the lead singer of alt-rock band Hole, Courtney Love acted in films like 'Sid and Nancy,' 'Man on the Moon,' and 'The People vs. Larry Flynt.'

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David Bowie - The iconic singer notably appeared in the musical fantasy film 'Labyrinth,' as well as 'The Last Temptation of Christ.'

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Solange Knowles - Two years after dropping her debut studio album in 2002, Solange appeared in 'Johnson Family Vacation' alongside Bow Wow, Cedric the Entertainer, and Vanessa Williams, and later starred in 'Bring It On: All or Nothing.'

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Tim McGraw - The famed country singer notably appeared in the films 'The Blind Side' and 'Friday Night Lights.'

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Snoop Dogg - Snoop Dogg co-starred in 'Mac & Devin Go to High School' alongside fellow rapper Wiz Khalifa, and he's appeared in films like 'Baby Boy,' 'Soul Plane,' and 'Training Day.'

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Dolly Parton - The legendary country singer has appeared in films like 'Steel Magnolias' and '9 to 5.'

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Tom Waits - The singer has appeared in films like 'Bram Stoker's Dracula,' 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,' and most recently 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.'

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Eminem - Who could forget the rapper's powerful performance in '8 Mile'?

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Sean Combs - P. Diddy has appeared in films like 'Get Him to the Greek,' 'Notorious,' and 'Monster's Ball.'

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Debbie Harry - The Blondie singer has had notable roles in films like 'Videodrome' and 1988's 'Hairspray.'

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Mos Def - The rapper has appeared in well-known films like 'The Italian Job' and 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.'

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André 3000 - First finding fame as one half of OutKast, André 3000 later starred as Jimi Hendrix in 'Jimi: All Is by My Side' as well as 'Four Brothers.' He also recently starred in 'High Life' alongside Robert Pattinson.

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Alicia Keys - The R&B singer has had film roles in 'Smokin' Aces,' 'The Nanny Diaries,' and 'The Secret Life of Bees.'

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Mariah Carey -

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

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