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.
Musicians Who Have Jumped From the Stage to the Screen: Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift & More
Written by djfrosty on August 28, 2024
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 self-directed 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.
-
Image Credit: John Wilson/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection -
Alana Haim
Image Credit: Paul Thomas Anderson/MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman in “Licorice Pizza” in 2021.
-
Joe Jonas
Image Credit: Eli Ade/Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Jonathan Majors, Daren Kagasoff, Nick Hargrove, Adam Makos, Joe Jonas and Glen Powell in “Devotion” in 2022. Jonas also starred in “Camp Rock” and “Jonas” on Disney Channel.
-
Nick Jonas
Image Credit: Frank Masi/Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Nick Jonas, Jack Black and Awkwafina in “Jumanji” The Next Level” in 2019. Jonas has also starred in “The Good Half” and “Careful What You Wish For.”
-
Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Taylor Swift in “Cats” in 2019. Swift has also starred in “The Giver,” “Amsterdam” and more.
-
Mary J. Blige
Image Credit: Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Mary J. Blige in “Mudbound” in 2017.
-
Rihanna
Image Credit: Marie Fox/Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection Lenny Kravitz in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” in 2013. Kravitz has also starred in “The Hunger Games” and “Precious.”
-
Justin Timberlake
Image Credit: Stephen Vaughan/20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in “In Time” in 2011. Timberlake has also starred in “The Social Network,” “Friends With Benefits” and more projects.
-
Josh Groban
Image Credit: Ben Glass/Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection Emma Stone and Josh Groban in “Crazy, Stupid, Love” in 2011.
-
Diddy
Image Credit: Glen Wilson/Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs and Jonah Hill in “Get Him To The Greek” in 2010.
-
Mariah Carey
Image Credit: Macall Polay/Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection Mariah Carey in “Precious” 2009.
-
Alicia Keys
Image Credit: ©Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection Alicia Keys and Nate Parker in “The Secret Life of Bees” in 2008.
-
Tunde Adebimpe
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection Mather Zickel, Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt and Tunde Adebimpe in “Rachel Getting Married” in 2008. Adebimpe has also starred in “Twisters” and “Pantheon.”
-
Keith Richards
Image Credit: Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Keith Richards and Johnny Depp in “Pirates Of The Caribbean: At Worlds End” 2007.
-
Tim McGraw
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection Alison Lohman and Tim McGraw in “Flicka” in 2006. McGraw has also starred in “1883,” “Yellowstone” and more.
-
Beyoncé & Jennifer Hudson
Image Credit: DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection 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.
-
OutKast
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection André Benjamin and Antwan A. Patton in “Idlewild” in 2006.
-
Jessica Simpson
Image Credit: Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson and Seann William Scott in “The Dukes of Hazard” in 2005. Simpson has also starred in “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Blonde Ambition.”
-
50 Cent
-
Mandy Moore
Image Credit: United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection Mandy Moore in “Saved!” in 2004. Moore has also starred in “This Is Us,” “Tangled” and more projects.
-
Faith Hill
Image Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Faith Hill (center right) in “The Stepford Wives” in 2004.
-
Mos Def
Image Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Mos Def in “The Italian Job” in 2003.
-
Ludacris
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Ludacris in “2 Fast 2 Furious” in 2003. He’s also appeared in “Crash” and “Gamer.”
-
Bow Wow
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection Morris Chestnut and Lil’ Bow Wow in “Like Mike” in 2002.
-
Britney Spears
Image Credit: Columbia/Courtesy Everett Collection Anson Mount, Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning in “Crossroads” in 2002.
-
Eminem
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Eminem in “8 Mile” in 2002.
-
Aaliyah
Image Credit: Warner Brothers./Courtesy Everett Collection. Aaliyah in “Queen of the Damned” in 2002. She also starred in “Romeo Must Die.”
-
Dwight Yoakam
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Forest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam in “Panic Room” in 2002. He’s also starred in “Crank,” “Cry Macho” and more projects.
-
Snoop Dogg
Image Credit: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection Snoop Dogg in “Training Day” in 2001. He’s also starred in “The Underdoggs” and “The Beach Bum.”
-
Janet Jackson
Image Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Col 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
Image Credit: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection LL Cool J in “Deep Blue Sea” in 1999.
-
Erykah Badu
Image Credit: Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 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.
-
Brandy
Image Credit: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Jennifer Love Hewitt and Brandy Norwood in “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” in 1998. Brandy has also starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” “Moesha” and more.
-
Harry Connick Jr.
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection Harry Connick Jr. and Sandra Bullock in “Hope Floats” in 1998. Connick Jr. has also starre din “Find Me Falling,” “Dolphin Tale” and more.
-
Will Smith
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: Comedy Partners/Courtesy Everett Collection Courtney Love and Woody Harrelson in “The People vs. Larry Flynt” in 1996. Love has also starred in “Trapped” and “Man on the Moon.”
-
Queen Latifah
Image Credit: New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett Collection Richard Brooks, Thuy Trang and Iggy Pop in “The Crow: City of Angels” in 1996.
-
Jon Bon Jovi
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Jon 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
Image Credit: Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Lauryn Hill in “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” in 1993.
-
Chris Isaak
Image Credit: Lorey Sebastian/New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur in “Juice” in 1992. Pac also starred in “Poetic Justice” and “Above the Rim.”
-
Whitney Houston
Image Credit: Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in “The Bodyguard” in 1992. Houston also starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” “The Preacher’s Wife” and more.
-
Ice-T
Image Credit: Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection Mario Van Peebles and Ice-T in “New Jack City” in 1991. Ice has also starred in “Law & Order” and “Surviving the Game.”
-
Björk
Image Credit: Arbelos Films/Courtesy Everett Collection Björk in “The Juniper Tree” in 1990. The musician also starred in “Dancer in the Dark” and “The Northman.”
-
Tom Waits & John Lurie
Image Credit: Island Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Tom Waits, John Lurie and Roberto Benigni in “Down By Law” in 1986.
-
Madonna
Image Credit: Orion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection Tina Turner in “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” in 1985.
-
Sting
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Jose Ferrer, Sting and Sian Phillips in “Dune” in 1984. Sting also starred in “Quadrophenia.”
-
Prince
Image Credit: Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection Prince in “Purple Rain” 1984. The musician also starred in the self-directed films “Under the Cherry Moon” and “Graffiti Bridge.”
-
Cher
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher in “Silkwood” in 1983. Cher has also starred in “Burlesque,” “Mask” and more.
-
Debbie Harry
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Debbie Harry in “Videodrome” in 1983.
-
David Bowie
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto in “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” in 1983. Bowie also starred in “The Prestige” and more projects.
-
Willie Nelson
Image Credit: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection Willie Nelson and Mickey Rooney Jr. in “Honeysuckle Rose” in 1980. Nelson has also starred in “Paradox,” “Angels Sing” and more.
-
Meat Loaf
Image Credit: United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection 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
Image Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection 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.”
-
John Denver
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Teri Garr and John Denver in “Oh, God!” in 1977.
-
Barbra Streisand & Kris Kristofferson
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection 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.
-
Art Garfunkel
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Art Garfunkel and Candice Bergen in “Carnal Knowledge” in 1971. Garfunkel also starred in “Catch-22,” “Bad Timing” and more.
-
Mick Jagger
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Mick Jagger and Janne Wolmsley in “Ned Kelly” in 1970.
-
Glen Campbell
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Glen Campbell and Edith Atwater in “True Grit” in 1969. Campbell also starred in “Norwood.”
-
Dean Martin
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Dean Martin in “Rio Bravo” in 1959. Martin also starred in “Airport,” “Ocean’s 11” and more projects.
-
Elvis Presley
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Elvis Presley in “Jailhouse Rock” in 1957. Presley also starred in “Viva Las Vegas,” “Blue Hawaii” and more.
-
Frank Sinatra
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed in “From Here To Eternity” in 1953. Sinatra also starred in “Ocean’s 11,” “High Society” and more.