In an era of more-is-less, it’s not surprising to find your favorite celebrity trying their hand at a various slew of talents. Case in point: the musician-turned-actor (and vice versa).
Multitalented artists, like Jennifer Hudson and Mark Wahlberg, have made the transition from Billboard accolades to Oscar nominations look entirely too easy, prompting a new wave of young talent like Zendaya, who are completely at peace with juggling multiple job titles—and doing it all with a surreal level of calm and coolness. And, while many make the transition from musician to actor look effortless, just as many still try to charm film critics—ultimately, to no avail. From Rihanna to Mariah Carey to Nick Jonas, here they are. And for more A-listers who can effortlessly phase between disciplines, check out these 12 Famous Actors You Forgot Were Once Amazing Athletes.
1 Beyonce
As one of the most influential pop stars of all time, Queen B has singlehandedly maintained the vibrancy and importance of music videos through her visual albums like “Lemonade.” So, it may not be surprising that the international pop star wants to add an Oscar to her long list of accolades. While critics were less-than-crazy about her role as Deena in Dreamgirls, her latest venture in acting, as Nala in Disney’s latest adaptation of The Lion King, may just be her golden ticket to the big leagues. And for more on celebrities’ past lives, check out these 20 Celebs Who Were Once Game Show Contestants.
2 Ice Cube
Widely known for being one of the creators of “gangsta rap,” Ice Cube first found commercial success as a member of the rap group N.W.A. However, after releasing two platinum albums in the ’90s, Ice Cube went on to try his hand at other ventures—namely, acting. While his film debut in Boyz in the Hood was heavily praised, the remaining decades of his acting career have been less than memorable. Most recently, however, he produced 2015’s Straight Outta Compton, a biographical film about N.W.A., that ended up grossing more than $200 million globally.
3 50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, was once named the sixth most influential artist of the 200os. He sold over 30 million albums worldwide and earned a Grammy Award, 13 Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and four BET Awards. So, just like other influential rappers before him, 50 Cent figured that acting might come just as naturally to him.
Fortunately for the rapper, much of his work in film has been behind the scenes, as the creator of two film production companies called G-Unit Films and Cheetah Vision. Since the founding of these companies, 50 Cent has sold multiple film projects to other networks, including ones that he has starred in—though they haven’t seen much commercial success. And for more on your favorite actors, check out these 25 Funny Pranks from the Sets of Your Favorite Movies.
4 Lady GaGa
Whether she is starring as herself or someone else, Lady GaGa has gradually made the transition from musician and superstar performer to multitalented global sensation, adding movie star to her repertoire. Most recently, GaGa has been promoting her first lead role in A Star is Born, due to premiere in theaters later this year.
5 Justin Timberlake
At one point, the “Sexyback” singer and former member of the boy band N’SYNC had taken a four-year hiatus from music to focus on his acting career from 2008 to 2012. The hiatus from music resulted in minor roles in The Social Network, Bad Teacher, and Friends with Benefits (and according to Timberlake, a series of awful auditions). And, though he continued pursuing acting, Timberlake decided to return back to his original calling, releasing two more albums, “The 20/20 Experience” and “Man of Woods,” both of which were almost overnight successes for the singer. And for more on the hidden lives of your favorite musicians, check out these 30 Celebrities With Amazing Hidden Talents.
