In a strange sense, all of the arts are connected in some way. They form a sort of symbiotic relationship with the other. The use of or absence of one in another is always noted. A movie with a great score or a movie that notably lacks one can have a massive effect on the film. Design, in any form such as cinematography or set, always plays a role. And sometimes, a few music artists decide to make the leap to film, as the call is simply irresistible. Music artists perform on stage; what’s the problem with performing on screen? So, with that in mind, here are 10 artists who made that leap after starting as musicians.
Eminem
Eminem hasn’t had as many roles as some of the other names on this list, but he deserves a shout out. Sorry Lady Gaga, Eminem had the edge by one film. 2002’s semi-autobiographical smash hit 8 Mile is a staple of 2000’s pop culture, and Eminem’s performance as an actor was up to par with his skill as a rapper. And then, the famously banned-in-North-Korea film The Interview opens with a genuinely hilariously interview with Eminem, where he (jokingly) comes out of the closet. He’s had cameos in other small films and been offered (and declined) roles in films, but don’t be shocked if he comes back to film in due time.
Madonna
Say what you will about the overall success of Madonna’s filmography, but she still managed to nab roles in several films. Just like the mental state of a Targaryen, Madonna’s acting prowess is a coin toss. She can either be fantastic for roles or completely dreadful, it seems. A League Of Their Own is a great film! Shanghai Surprise is…not. Dick Tracy is pretty decent! Swept Away isn’t! At any rate, Madonna’s showmanship is one of her best-known attributes, so it’s only natural she’d bring her big character to film, with varying results.
Elvis Presley
The King’s realm wasn’t limited to records and the stage; Elvis managed to get himself into several films, after claiming he wanted to do so ever since he earned a spotlight for his music. His first role was 1956’s Love Me Tender, a musical Western about the real-life Reno Brothers.
It would be the only film he did not get top billing for, as the successful film (and title song) were a big hit, and Elvis would go on to star in several films that mostly just revolved around himself finding an excuse to sing, the best of which was arguably 1957’s Jailhouse Rock.
Beyoncé
After a small role in a TV movie hip-hop adaptation of the “Carmen” opera, Beyoncé starred in the much-better known Austin Powers franchise in its third installment, Goldmember. Like Elvis, Beyoncé has mostly starred in films in her comfort zone, such as musical oriented ones, most notably, the cinematic adaptation of Dreamgirls. However, she did show immersive interest in filmmaking by going all out with her “Lemonade” concept album and accompanying videos. Most recently, she starred in the live-action remake of The Lion King and even got to shoehorn in a song.
Cher
From the Sonny & Cher led film Good Times to Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Cher’s film career is nearly the same age as her music career. However, her film career was most prominent in the 1980s, where Cher starred in a good number of commercially and critically successful films, such as a cinematic version of Come Back to the Five and Dime, which she was cast in after a successful Broadway run. From there, she also starred in Silkwood, Mask, Suspect, The Witches of Eastwick, and perhaps her best film, the romantic-comedy Moonstruck.
David Bowie
Just like his own music career, David Bowie’s filmography is a strange and varied assortment of roles. His first foray into film was 1976’s The Man Who Fell To Earth, about an alien who lands on Earth – a perfect role for Ziggy Stardust himself. There’s also the strange erotic horror film The Hunger, a quick cameo in Zoolander, and a role as Pontius Pilate in Martin Scorsese’s excellent epic, The Last Temptation of Christ.
But the elephant in the room should be addressed; his best-known film was the 1986 fantasy, Labyrinth. The Jim Henson-directed and George Lucas produced musical fantasy was one heck of a weird movie, and didn’t do well in the box office, but has garnered a massive cult following in subsequent years.
Justin Timberlake
Poor Timberlake has been in a slew of dreadful movies; Shrek The Third, The Love Guru, and Yogi Bear. He’s also been a part of several forgettable comedies, such as Friends With Benefits and Bad Teacher. There was also the bizarre In Time film, where everyone had watches that counted down to their deaths and stopped aging at 25. If they ran out of time, the could buy more, and if not, they died. Luckily, Timberlake will always have…four minutes. But none of that matters, because Timberlake had two great roles in two of the best films of the 2010s: The Social Network and Inside Llewyn Davis.
Ice Cube
Ice Cube wanted to be an actor for a long time, and when he found massive success with the introduction of N.W.A. to the music scene, he took advantage of his household name to launch his film career. His first movie was a big hit; 1991’s Boyz n the Hood was a critical and commercial success and even got recognized with nominations at the Oscars, a rare win for a diverse film. From there, Ice Cube popped up in Friday, Anaconda, Are We There Yet? and several other films. However, his role in 21 and 22 Jumpstreet really took full advantage of his “mean guy” persona for 2 great comedy classics. And then, Ice Cube found even further success after producing the Straight Outta Compton biopic about N.W.A., featuring his own son in a lead role as…Ice Cube.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson might be the most successful of the American music stars-turned-actors on this list. The 1976 version of A Star Is Born still remains a solid adaptation in the endless cycle of remakes. His role as a dastardly sheriff in Lone Star is completely different from his role as a sympathetic gunslinger in Pat Garret and Billy The Kid. And yeah, his role in the Blade trilogy was pretty baller, too. Whether in big roles or small roles, Kristofferson has managed to hit every kind of genre there is over the course of his career since 1971 and has continued to appear in films frequently. Even for the population of people that hates country music, they’re likely to share knowledge of the name “Kris Kristofferson” with country fans.
Leslie Cheung
Hong Kong’s biggest star was a worldwide sensation. The King of Cantopop started off in music, got to be a household name with his tremendous acting, got bigger in music, and returned to film with even more acclaim. Cheung had everything a star needed; looks, charisma, and talent. He would star in some of the biggest films to come out of the Asian market, including A Better Tomorrow, Days of Being Wild, A Chinese Ghost Story, and Happy Together. Though he was equally big as an actor and singer in Asia, around the world, he was seen as an actor first, as his films were not musically oriented. He did the transition from music to screen flawlessly.
Tragically, Cheung was not happy despite his massive success, and the frustration to find that inner peace leads him to commit suicide at the age of 46 in 2003, leaving behind massive mourning of people from all around the world. He was an icon for the LGBTQ+ community, an icon for cinema, and an icon for Hong Kong.
