No surprise Hollywood loves a good crossover. Numerous musicians have tried acting, but very few have managed to actually shine on camera. Some bombed, others found a new profession, and a few redefined what it is to be an entertainer. Here are 10 music stars who crossed over from stage to screen and proved they had the chops to do it all.
10. Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore started as a late ’90s teen pop star with hits like Candy, but soon proved to the world she had a lot more to offer. She hit it big in her acting career with A Walk to Remember, where she displayed a subdued emotional complexity. Decades later, she won over viewers’ hearts playing Rebecca Pearson on This Is Us, racking up Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her haunting performance. Moore is not the most glamorous surname on this list, but her steady climb to solid actor stature has been one of the most impressive.
9. Ice Cube
Few comebacks are as legendary as Ice Cube’s. After shaking up the music world with N.W.A., he busted into movies, headlining Boyz N the Hood, a cultural phenomenon. He swapped tou,gh dramatics for comedic gold, franchiseing Friday and Barbershop, and bringing laughs with 21 Jump Street. Cube proved that he could do something beyond breaking up hip-hop, becoming an institution in Hollywood.
8. Justin Timberlake
Ever the chameleon, Justin Timberlake underwent the most extreme transformation when he left behind being an idol as a member of a boy band to being the center of the universe as an adult leading man. He took home Emmys for his comedic turns on Saturday Night Live and performed in movies like The Social Network and Inside Llewyn Davis. This is one rare breed and is able to canter effortlessly between music, comedy, and drama, keeping the audience guessing.
7. SZA
The newest on the list, SZA, is already making waves outside of music. Best known for her Grammy Award-winning R&B, she made her mark in film with One of Them Days, featuring Keke Palmer, and initial reviews are glowing. Critics praise her effortless charm and range, speculating that her acting career is just as exciting as her music.
6. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga never shied away from reinventing herself, and her acting career is the proof. While her exaggerated music videos were a sign of things to come in terms of her acting skills, it was A Star Is Born that confirmed to the world that she can carry a movie, and she was nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress. She quickly shocked viewers in House of Gucci and will next astound viewers as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux. Gaga’s fearless creativity easily translates from performance to cinema.
5. Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson’s rise is the stuff of myth: American Idol contestant to Academy Award winner in the span of a few years. Her show-stopping performance as Effie in Dreamgirls won her an Oscar but also brought her forward as a force to be considered in Hollywood. She’s since appeared in roles like Aretha Franklin in Respect and launched her own talk show, firmly establishing herself as a triple-threat performer.
4. Cher
It’s correct, when people talk about true entertainment icons, Cher is always mentioned. She was the queen of song for many years, and then she surprised the world by winning the Oscar for Best Actress for Moonstruck. She had a great run in the Witches of Eastwick and Burlesque, proving to everyone that she was just as strong on film as on stage. Cher’s life is the definition of success in music and film.
3. Beyonce
Beyoncé is such a powerful personality that it only made sense that she enter into film. She has had a number of solid supporting roles in Austin Powers in Goldmember, Dreamgirls, and Cadillac Records. Also, she has provided the voice of Nala in Disney’s remake of The Lion King. In fact, music will always be number one, but Beyoncé has always demonstrated that she can entertain the spectators via the screen as well.
2. Madonna
Madonna’s film career doesn’t compare to her music career, but you can still feel her impact and influence in Hollywood. She was great in Desperately Seeking Susan, played scandalously in A League of Their Own, and received a Golden Globe for her performance in Evita. Love or hate her, she broke all rules and showed she was so much more than the “Queen of Pop” nickname.
1. Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand, to begin with, is the one who established the gold standard of success for a singer turned actor and therefore leads the pack. She has been brilliant in the films Funny Girl, The Way We Were, and Yentl – the last, she also directed and produced. With an EGOT under her belt, Streisand stands alone. Her genewide role was not just a transition; she commanded every space that she entered.
Though they vary from Oscar winners to pop icons, these actors are proof that being great doesn’t necessarily mean staying in one spot. Whether it’s through comedy, drama, or musicals, these actors have demonstrated that the worlds of music and film aren’t as different as we like to believe, and when the right individual becomes a star in both, the outcome is unforgettable.