The following 10 great musicians turned actors have shown that they can do just about anything, including creating memorable movie and TV roles that go beyond their musical careers.
1. Eminem
Eminem has been wowing the crowds with his rap talents since the 90’s and it turned out he had a thing for acting as well. His 8 Mile, somewhat autobiographical movie was said to be one of the best rapper – actor performances ever done. After a long break from the limelight, Eminem is making up for lost time by getting into movies again including boxing film Southpaw, horror film Shady Talez and Random Acts of Violence. These latest endeavors are really adding to his bottom line.
2. Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey, one half of the power couple married to Nick Cannon, has a spectacular, melt your heart voice and while her acting has been ridiculed at times (Glitter), Mariah actually has the ability to act. Carey actually rocked her part as a social worker in 2009’s emotional movie Precious.
3. Little Bow Wow
Little Bow Wow made the transition to actor long before his rapper (releasing his first album at the age of 11) turned actor phase really took off. Lil Bow Wow successfully made his way into the movie industry at a young age in 2002 when he starred in Like Mike, followed by Roll Bounce in 2005. Then in 2010 he starred along with rapper turned actor Ice Cube in Lottery Ticket.
4. Nelly
Not only did Nelly become the first rap artist to ever release two new albums at the same time (Sweat and Suit), he has also hit the big screen in movies that include the remake of the Longest Yard and upcoming Reach Me (2014) and has made television appearances in CSI New York and the Next.
5. Justin Timberlake
This popular ‘N Sync megastar that the world can’t help but love is not only a music icon, he has also starred in several movies from dark action flicks to comedies. Justin’s most popular movies include Alpha Dog, Southland Tales, Friends with Benefits, Bad Teacher and it was his performance as Facebook mentor and Napster co-founder Sean Parker in 2010 that really showcased his acting prowess.
6. Jennifer Hudson
Few singers have had the acting success that Jennifer Hudson has had since her debut on American Idol. Not only does she have an incredible, booming voice, it turns out that she has great acting skills as well. Hudson played Effie White in the movie Dreamgirls about a Supremes like singing group (the Dreamettes), playing opposite big names like Eddie Murphy and Beyoncé; Jennifer ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Hudson also played in the Secret Life of Bees.
7. Madonna
Madonna is known for not only her singing talents, gritty music videos and colorful lifestyle, but for her diverse acting skills that were a bit surprising, ranging from movies like A League of their Owner to more challenging movies like Evita.
8. Snoop Dogg
It sounds crazy, but did you know that this legendary rapper has actually been in a whopping 34 feature films?! Well, you may not have heard of (or seen) them all but some of his more notable movies where Starsky and Hutch (Huggy Bear) and he had a small part in Training Day. The rapper has also lent his ultra-smooth, distinct voice to quite a few animated films including Arthur and the Invisibles.
9. Beyoncé
The former Destiny’s Child and now solo singing icon has starred in a number of movies, including the “Austin Powers film’s Goldmember, and International Man of Mystery however, when it comes to movie’s Beyoncé is best known for her roles in Dreamgirls (2006) and Cadillac Records in 2008.
10. LL Cool J
LL Cool J, the godfather of Def Jam, is a versatile entertainer that can not only rap, but act, showing up in movies that vary from comedy to horror including Toys, Halloween H20 and Deep Blue Sea. He has also starred in TV shows include NCIS Los Angeles (still on TV) and House.