Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have all nurtured film careers in addition to their music.
Though they may have started as musicians, many of the world’s biggest stars have also adapted their performance abilities for the screen.
Some simply dabble in Hollywood, dipping their toes into acting as a hobby or making cameos in projects to boost a cast list with their star power. Others take it as seriously as they do their music, making it an equal or greater focus of their careers in the long run.
And for a few triple-threat A-listers, the mediums go hand in hand. Take Lady Gaga, for instance, whose film roles – Ally in 2018’s A Star Is Born, Harley Quinn in 2024’s Joker: Folie à Deux – have required her to flex her singing and piano-playing skills while delivering emotional, dynamic performances in character. Taylor Swift sang and danced in the 2019 screen adaptation of Cats alongside her castmates, as well as penned an original tune for the project alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber. Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson both served up stunning vocals for 2006’s Dreamgirls movie-musical, while Prince’s 1984 flick Purple Rain went hand-in-hand with his iconic album of the same name.
No matter how lengthy or prestigious the credits on their IMDb pages are, however, it’s true that musicians are often naturally suited for acting in front of a camera. Both art forms involve charisma, presentation and the ability to thrive under the spotlight – so it’s no wonder why so many big names in music have been able to successfully cross over into the film and TV spaces.
Keep reading to see photos of stars who’ve proven they can do it all, plus some of their biggest roles, below. (The artist had to be well-known for music before they were well-known for film acting. Apologies to Jennifer Lopez.)
Janelle Monáe
Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” in 2022. Monáe has also starred in “Moonlight,” “Hidden Figures” and more projects.
Alana Haim
Alana Haim of HAIM and Cooper Hoffman in “Licorice Pizza” in 2021.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift in “Cats” in 2019. Swift has also starred in “The Giver,” “Amsterdam” and more.
Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige in “Mudbound” in 2017.
Rihanna
Sarah Paulson, Sandra Bullock and Rihanna in “Ocean’s 8” in 2018. Rih has also starred in “Home” and “Battleship.”
Harry Styles
Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard and Fionn Whitehead in “Dunkirk” in 2017. Styles has also starred in “My Policeman” and “Don’t Worry Darling.”
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” in 2013. Kravitz has also starred in “The Hunger Games” and “Precious.”
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in “In Time” in 2011. Timberlake has also starred in “The Social Network,” “Friends With Benefits” and more projects.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey in “Precious” 2009.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys and Nate Parker in “The Secret Life of Bees” in 2008.
Keith Richards
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and Johnny Depp in “Pirates Of The Caribbean: At Worlds End” 2007.
Beyoncé & Jennifer Hudson
Anika Noni Rose, Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls” in 2006. Bey also starred in “The Pink Panther” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” while Hudson has acted in “Respect,” “Cats” and more.
Jessica Simpson
Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson and Seann William Scott in “The Dukes of Hazzard” in 2005. Simpson has also starred in “Blonde Ambition.”
50 Cent
Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson in “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” in 2005. The rapper has also starred in “Power” and “Den of Thieves.”
Faith Hill
Faith Hill (center right) in “The Stepford Wives” in 2004.
Britney Spears
Anson Mount, Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning in “Crossroads” in 2002.
Eminem
Eminem in “8 Mile” in 2002.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah in “Queen of the Damned” in 2002. She also starred in “Romeo Must Die.”
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg in “Training Day” in 2001. He’s also starred in “The Underdoggs” and “The Beach Bum.”
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson and Eddie Murphy in “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” in 2000. Jackson has also starred in “Poetic Justice,” “Why Did I Get Married?” and more projects.
LL Cool J
LL Cool J in “Deep Blue Sea” in 1999.
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu and Delroy Lindo in “The Cider House Rules” in 1999. Badu has also starred in “What Men Want” and “The Doc.”
Ice Cube
Ice Cube, George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg in “Three Kings” in 1999. Ice Cube has also starred in “Fist Fight,” “22 Jump Street” and more projects.
Harry Connick Jr.
Harry Connick Jr. and Sandra Bullock in “Hope Floats” in 1998. Connick Jr. has also starred in “Find Me Falling,” “Dolphin Tale” and more.
Will Smith
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in “Men In Black” in 1997. Smith has also starred in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “King Richard” and more projects.
Courtney Love
Courtney Love of HOLE and Woody Harrelson in “The People vs. Larry Flynt” in 1996. Love has also starred in “Trapped” and “Man on the Moon.”
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah, Kimberly Elise, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett in “Set It Off” in 1996. Latifah has also starred in “The Equalizer,” “Girls Trip” and more projects.
Iggy Pop
Richard Brooks, Thuy Trang and Iggy Pop in “The Crow: City of Angels” in 1996.
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi of Bon Jovi and Elizabeth Perkins in “Moonlight and Valentino” in 1995. Bon Jovi has also starred in “Pay It Forward” and “U-571.”
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill in “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” in 1993.
Chris Isaak
David Lynch and Chris Isaak in “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” in 1992. Isaak also starred in “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Little Buddha.”
Tupac Shakur
Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur in “Juice” in 1992. Pac also starred in “Poetic Justice” and “Above the Rim.”
Whitney Houston
Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in “The Bodyguard” in 1992. Houston also starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” “The Preacher’s Wife” and more.
Björk
Björk in “The Juniper Tree” in 1990. The musician also starred in “Dancer in the Dark” and “The Northman.”
Tom Waits
Tom Waits, John Lurie and Roberto Benigni in “Down By Law” in 1986.
Madonna
Madonna and Patrick John Hurley in “Desperately Seeking Susan” in 1985. Madge has also starred in “Evita,” “A League of Their Own” and more projects.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner in “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” in 1985.
Sting
Jose Ferrer, Sting and Sian Phillips in “Dune” in 1984. Sting also starred in “Quadrophenia.”
Prince
Prince in “Purple Rain” 1984. The musician also starred in the self-directed films “Under the Cherry Moon” and “Graffiti Bridge.”
Cher
Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher in “Silkwood” in 1983. Cher has also starred in “Burlesque,” “Moonstruck”, “Mask” and more.
Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry in “Videodrome” in 1983.
David Bowie
David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto in “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” in 1983. Bowie also starred in “The Prestige” and more projects.
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson and Mickey Rooney Jr. in “Honeysuckle Rose” in 1980. Nelson has also starred in “Paradox,” “Angels Sing” and more.
Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf and Kaki Hunter in “Roadie” in 1980. Meat Loaf also starred in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Fight Club” and more projects.
Dolly Parton
Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in “9 to 5” in 1980. Parton also starred in “Joyful Noise,” “Steel Magnolias” and more.
Diana Ross & Michael Jackson
Nipsey Russell, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Ted Ross in “The Wiz” in 1978. Diana Ross also starred in “Double Platinum” and “Mahogany,” while the King of Pop had roles in “Men in Black II” and “Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls.”
Barbra Streisand & Kris Kristofferson
Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in “A Star is Born” in 1976. Streisand also starred in “The Way We Were,” “What’s Up, Doc?” and more, while, Kristofferson had roles in “Blade,” “Convoy” and more.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Janne Wolmsley in “Ned Kelly” in 1970. Jagger also had roles in "Performance", "Freejack" , "The Man from Elysian Fields" and more.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley in “Jailhouse Rock” in 1957. Presley also starred in “Viva Las Vegas,” “Blue Hawaii” and more.
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed in “From Here To Eternity” in 1953. Sinatra also starred in “Ocean’s 11,” “High Society” and more.
Besides those, our list encompasses more of music-hitmakers-gone-Hollywood.
Christina Aguilera in "Burlesque" in 2010.
Aretha Franklin in "The Blues Brothers" in 1980.
Childish Gambino in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in 2018.
Alanis Morissette in "Dogma" in 1999.
Ludacris in "Hustle & Flow" in 2005.
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in "The Big Lebowski" in 1998.
Selena Gomez in "Spring Breakers" in 2012.
Harry Belafonte in "Carmen Jones" in 1954.
Bette Midler in "The Rose" in 1979.
Ice-T in "New Jack City" in 1991.
Paul Simon in "Annie Hall" in 1977.
Olivia Newton-John in "Grease" in 1978.
Ice Cube in "Boyz N the Hood" in 1991.
Phil Collins in "Hook" in 1991.
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