Celebrities like Eminem and David Bowie may not have chosen acting for their day job, but they still managed to deliver excellent film performances.
Summary
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Non-acting celebrities like Eminem, Cher, and Mariah Carey have demonstrated their acting talents in serious film roles, surprising fans with their performances.
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Singers like Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga and Prince have made a successful transition from music to film, showing off their acting skills and delivering memorable performances.
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Olivia Newton-John and Lenny Kravitz, although primarily known for their music, have made their mark in Hollywood with notable roles in Grease and The Hunger Games, respectively.
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Acting is not an easy talent, but several celebrities who are not actors have proven capable of starring in movies. Singers, athletes, comedians: being in the public eye doesn’t guarantee they can perform. Maybe they can get away with a cameo in a sitcom, but real acting in a serious movie requires skills that very few are born with. Many celebrities try it, believing it will boost their careers, but end up embarrassing themselves. However, there have been a few over the years who have surprised fans with their acting skills.
Of course, many actors began their careers outside of Hollywood: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson established his fame as a wrestler, but he has since become even better known for his films. Rather, these celebrities will always be remembered for their non-acting career first and their few film roles second. People like Eminem, Andre the Giant and Olivia Newton-John simply immersed themselves in Hollywood and proved with their performances that their talent is several layers deep.
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10 Eminem – 8 miles
8 miles It was Eminem’s only serious acting role and was a critical and box office success. He followed the rapper’s character, B-Rabbit, as he struggled to escape his childhood trailer in Detroit and launch a music career. Of course, 8 miles It is essentially a biography as Eminem himself also grew up in Detroit before becoming the famous musician he is today. This means that the celebrity was more or less playing herself. Still, this alone did not guarantee excellent performance. Eminem managed to emote far beyond his lines or songs in the film, proving that he could have had a career in acting if he had chosen that path.
9 Cher – Dazzled
Cher has dabbled in film much more than many singers, but is still predominantly known for her music career. However, if any movie had moved her to a permanent location in Hollywood, she would have been Lunatic. The singer played the film’s protagonist, Loretta Castorini, who falls in love with her fiancé’s brother before her wedding. The role earned Cher an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
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8 Mariah Carey – Gorgeous
Mariah Carey is pop royalty, known for her wide vocal range and status as “supreme songbird.” Celebrities like her often appear in movies as themselves or as exaggerated diva-like characters. However, when it comes to Precious, Carey went in a completely different direction. She plays a compassionate social worker, Mrs. Weiss, who works throughout the film to free Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) from her abusive home. It would have been a very emotionally demanding role, difficult for any actor. Still, Carey pulled it off perfectly.
7 André the Giant – The Princess Bride
French wrestler André the Giant drew attention to his career for his large size, perfect for a professional wrestler. The man passed away in 1993, but he is still remembered as a legend in the wrestling community. Of course, that’s not all he is remembered for, many know Andre for his role as Fezzik in The princess Bride. The 1987 fantasy adventure revealed Andre’s talent for comedic acting and immediately thrilled audiences with his portrayal of the gentle giant. Fezzik was truly one of The princess BrideThe best characters, who had everything to do with the fighter.
6 David Bowie – Labyrinth
David Bowie was another singer who was not a complete stranger to the sets of Hollywood. His acting ability was evident only in his musical career, as he was known for his bold theatricality. However, his role in Labyrinth solidified the issue. Jereth, the Goblin King, was an eccentric character for whom Bowie was perfect. Playful, seductive and wonderfully evil, Bowie made Jereth and Labyrinth The perfect level of whimsy.
5 Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard
There could hardly be anyone better to play an R&B superstar than Whitney Houston. That’s precisely why she was perfect to star alongside Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard, a film about a singer who grows closer to her bodyguard and protector. This film brought to life Houston’s most iconic song, “I Will Always Love You,” but her heartbreaking vocal performance wasn’t the only thing that made her role great. The pop star’s acting skills made it possible to create a deliciously romantic film in which the audience could melt.
4 Lady Gaga – A Star is Born
Yet another theatrical musician, Lady Gaga’s acting ability has been present in most of her live performances. She is known for playing different characters and telling stories through her songs, but that did not guarantee that the pop star would be good in a serious role. After appearing on television shows such as American horror storyGaga starred opposite Bradley Cooper in her first major film, A star has been born. The duo’s chemistry was outstanding and Gaga was incredibly believable as struggling artist Ally Maine.
3 Prince – Purple Rain
Sometimes known simply as “The artist“Prince’s musical career involved a lot of creative genius. This included his acting debut in Purple Rain, a rock musical composed by the man himself. Still, songs like “I Would Die 4 U” and “Purple Rain” were only part of what made this movie great. Although he only took a few acting classes before starring in the Purple Rain In the film, Prince managed to bring a lot of feeling to the role, probably thanks to his passion for music.
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2 Olivia Newton-John – Grease
Olivia Newton-John released her first internationally successful album in 1971 and her career accelerated from then on. Straddling pop and country, the singer accepted several awards in the years that followed with songs like “Let Me Be There” and “Long Live Love.” Newton-John later hesitantly took on the role of Sandy in the 1978 film version of the musical. Fat. Although she would not be known predominantly as an actress, her role in this film alongside John Travolta truly propelled her to stardom. She kept her a familiar face among audiences of all ages, even decades later.
1 Lenny Kravitz – The Hunger Games
Lenny Kravitz established himself as one of the greatest musicians of all time long before appearing in a movie. Kravitz’s music is known for blending genres, with popular songs like “Fly Away,” “American Woman,” and “Believe In Me” all having their own unique flavor. The artist brought that same versatility to all areas of his career, but fans were still surprised to see Kravitz in The Hunger Games. Despite his background in rock, the singer brought a perfect calm to Cinna, Katniss’s stylist, during the first two films. It was a great role to show how even celebrities who don’t act can bring something special to a film.