The popular musician trying to make the jump to the world of film is not a new concept. Recently attempted by Abel Tesfaye (better known as the Weeknd), who tried to lead a Hollywood film in this year’s Hurry Up Tomorrow. With its quite poor critical and box office performance, Hurry Up Tomorrow will not join the likes of Moonstruck (Cher) or A Star is Born (Lady Gaga and Barbra Streisand) as a successful crossover for a pop star. It did inspire me to see if any musicians had successfully made the jump in the past half-decade (2020s). Through some research, I found a few that were able to do it, and for fun, I wanted to highlight them.
Janelle Monáe — Glass Onion
The incredibly versatile Monáe had already tried her hand in the acting space a few times (Moonlight, Hidden Figures) before 2022’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. But none of her previous work showcased the slapstick-esque comedic style she brought to the comedy. Donning her best southern drawl, writer/director Rian Johnson places Monáe at the center of the murder mystery. Forming an incredibly memorable friendship with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, Monáe delivers the strongest comedic moments of the film.
Alana Haim — Licorice Pizza
Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson deliberately looked outside the box to cast his unorthodox 70s-set “romance” Licorice Pizza. For the titular role of Alana Kane, a 20-something feeling lost in Los Angeles, he cast Haim, the lead singer of the all-sister band Haim, who had no previous acting credits. Haim, alongside fellow newcomer Cooper Hoffman, brings to life a moving relationship at the film’s center. She captures both the character’s naivete and her relatable strength as she searches for her place in the world.
SZA — One of Them Days
R&B singer SZA joined Keke Palmer in the comedy One of Them Days as two friends scrambling to find rent money before the sun sets. Known for her deep songwriting around heartbreak and identity, in her first acting credit, SZA brought a zany comedic energy reminiscent of Ice Cube in Friday. SZA embraces the free spirit of a character, and her antics and chemistry with Palmer elevate the film from being a somewhat formulaic comedy.
Kneecap — Kneecap
Instead of trying to find actors to match the manic energy of the hip hop trio in the fictional film based on them, writer-director Rich Peppiat decided to go right to the source, casting Liam Óg, Naoise Ó, and DJ Próvaías as themselves in their first acting roles. A bold swing that paid off, as the three were able to translate both the crude humor and the political activism of their music to the screen. Their performances helped make Kneecap both one of the funniest films of 2024 and a surprisingly poignant look at cultural pride.
Ariana Grande — Wicked
While not her first acting role, nothing from her time acting in teenage-based shows like Victorious or Sam and Cat gave confidence that an Oscar nomination was eventually in the cards for Grande. Having the daunting task of adapting the beloved Broadway character Glinda to the big screen, of course, Grande crushed the musical aspects of the character. However, most impressively, she captured the ditzy arrogance and eventual character change of Glinda. Her stellar chemistry with co-lead Cynthia Erivo helped make Wicked into one of the most successful Broadway adaptations.
Andra Day — The United States vs. Billie Holiday
The second Oscar nominee on the list, R&B singer Andra Day, elevates Lee Daniels’ inconsistent and formulaic biopic The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Perfectly emulating Holiday’s voice and look, Day does far more than impersonation — she channels the raw vulnerability, pain, and resistance at the heart of Holiday’s life. It’s a transformative performance that captures the toll of fame and addiction. Despite the film’s uneven structure, Day’s powerful screen presence and emotional depth keep it grounded, earning her a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.
Teyana Taylor — A Thousand and One
Singer, songwriter, and dancer Teyana Taylor gave one of the best performances of 2023 in A.V. Rockwell’s underrated directorial debut A Thousand and One. Playing a fiercely independent woman who kidnaps her six-year-old son from the foster care system, Taylor delivers a performance full of grit and quiet tenderness. Her portrayal is layered, and her chemistry with the young actors playing her son over time makes the mother-son relationship the film’s emotional backbone. It’s a star-making turn that proves Taylor is just as commanding on screen as she is on stage.
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