Many of the world's most iconic professional musicians have one major thing in common: they are consummate performers who wow audiences at their live shows. These musicians know that music can be used as a tool to bring audiences together in a shared emotional experience.
Some professional musicians confine their showmanship skills to their chosen craft, while others choose to branch out into new fields. These artists join the world of television, musicals, and even movies. Their performances as actors are just as iconic and memorable as their live music shows and gain them a whole new set of fans.
10 Cher Became A Star Of Stage & Screen
Cher has been a fixture in the music business since she and her late husband, Sonny Bono, performed as a pop duo in the 1960s. Cher has also enjoyed a very successful solo career and is still making music today. However, she has limited herself to just one mode of creative expression.
Fans have also enjoyed Cher's performances on television, in Broadway plays, and in several films. One of her most well-known movies is Moonstruck, a classic romantic comedy from the '80s. Cher stars alongside Nicolas Cage as a young widow named Loretta Castorini.
9 Elvis Was Still The King On The Big Screen
Elvis Presley was truly iconic at the height of his music career, causing controversy and making fans swoon wherever he went. However, "The King" also had Hollywood ambitions to explore. In 1956, the singer made his film debut in Love Me Tender, which went on to be a commercial success.
Although Elvis' music career continued to flourish, Presley devoted a great deal of time and effort to becoming a film star. All told, Elvis appeared in an impressive 31 feature films before his untimely death at the age of 42. Even now — four decades after his death — Presley is still a popular subject on the big screen. In 2022, a biopic simply called Elvis retold Presley's life story in all its glory and darkness.
8 Madonna Went From Material Girl To Desperately Seeking Susan
Madonna shot to super-stardom in the early 1980s as a pop star with a bold attitude and unique fashion sense. However, the so-called Material Girl always had a passion for film. Her career as an actor started with small roles in independent movies, but her role as the title character in Desperately Seeking Susan put her on the Hollywood map.
She also starred in Evita, a classic 90s movie musical about an Argentinian actress. Today, Madonna continues to be active in both the film and music scenes and is currently directing a biopic about her own life.
7 Harry Styles First Acted In A War Film
The idea of any member of the band One Direction starring in a war movie may have seemed foreign at one point, but that is exactly what happened in 2017. Former member Harry Styles made his big screen debut in Dunkirk, a Christopher Nolan film about a pivotal World War II battle. Since then, Styles' film career has flourished alongside his career as a solo artist.
In 2022, Styles released a new album and starred in two different films: My Policeman and Don't Worry Darling. This multi-talented musician is still young, so he likely has many more successful years of acting and performing in his future.
6 Lady Gaga Frequently Plays Iconic Characters
Lady Gaga took over the airways with her debut album, The Fame, in 2008. Although she continues to succeed in the music world, she has also demonstrated her acting skills in multiple television and film projects. For example, Gaga played the unforgettable vampiric Countess Elizabeth Johnson in American Horror Story: Hotel.
One of Gaga's most undeniably memorable film roles was in 2018's A Star Is Born, where the musician-turned-actress played opposite Bradley Cooper. This romantic movie about two musicians at different stages of their careers was a big hit with audiences and cemented Gaga's place in the film world.
5 Lenny Kravitz Excels In Dramatic Roles
Lenny Kravitz has always been known for his musical talent and iconic showmanship, but he's also an experienced dramatic actor. Action movie fans will most likely recognize the rock and roll singer as Cinna, a fashion designer from The Hunger Games film franchise.
However, Kravitz also appeared in Lee Daniels' stunning historical drama The Butler. Both of these films appealed to a wide audience and fully demonstrated Kravitz's acting talents. Although Kravitz has slowed down on releasing new music, his acting career is alive and well.
4 Queen Latifah Bridges The Gap Between Rap & Film
Queen Latifah's music career began in the late 1980s, but she has been an actor for nearly as long. In 1991, the rapper-turned-actor made her film debut with a small role in Jungle Fever, a romantic drama written and directed by Spike Lee. She continued to take on film roles throughout the 1990s, including the popular heist movie Set It Off.
Queen Latifah hasn't released a new album since 2009, but she has maintained a steady acting career for three decades. Fans can see her in movies from several genres, including action, comedy, and even a handful of holiday films.
3 Frank Sinatra Won Grammys & An Oscar
Frank Sinatra quickly became a household name in the 1940s and 1950s and is still well-known today. However, the crooner was also an accomplished actor. He is among the most accomplished performers in the music industry and made a lasting impression on the film world as well.
In 1954, Sinatra even won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in From Here To Eternity. This film spans several genres, combining romantic elements with the drama of war. Sinatra starred in over 40 movies throughout his lifetime and released almost 60 studio albums.
2 Ludacris Joined A Successful Film Franchise
Rapper Ludacris built a fruitful music career throughout the early 2000s and is also exceptionally recognizable as an actor. Fans most likely remember him from his role in the popular Fast & Furious film franchise. His character, Tej Parker, first appeared in the franchise's second installment, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and has appeared in several other films.
In addition to Ludacris' time with the long-running action franchise, he has also appeared in several other movies. He mostly sticks to action films, but he also has some comedic and dramatic roles under his belt. Ludacris has also promised to resume releasing new music, which will be a welcome development for fans of his music.
1 Mark Wahlberg Tried His Hand At Singing
Most movie fans immediately associate Mark Wahlberg with his many successful film projects, but he actually began his journey to stardom as a professional musician. Once upon a time, the Ted star was the lead singer of a band called Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which released two albums in the early 1990s.
The hip-hop group had their first and only Billboard Top 100 #1 with Good Vibrations, which is still popular with many fans of 1990s music. However, after landing his first movie roles in the mid-1990s, Wahlberg left music to pursue being a full-time actor.