5 Successful Musicians Who Also Became Successful Actors

Many musicians want to become actors but few make it in both fields. The passing into the second industry is almost natural as entertainers want to organically and perpetually explore new creative avenues. It also helps that movies increase your visibility as a music artist and helps you reach a wider audience. Many also simply enjoy acting and believe they have talent in the area (although that’s best left for the professionals to judge). We’ve therefore, compiled the best 5 music stars who also became acclaimed succesful actors.

5. Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake first rose to fame as a member of the boy band NSYNC in the late 1990s. He has since established himself as a successful solo artist, with hits like Cry Me a River and Sexy Back. In addition to his music career, Timberlake has also made a name for himself as an actor. He made his acting debut in the Disney Channel movie Model Behavior in 2000, and has since appeared in a number of films, including The Social Network, Bad Teacher, and Trolls. Timberlake has also had thunderous appearances on shows like Saturday Night Live and Inside the Actor’s Studio.

4. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez, (famously named J.Lo), became known as a singer and dancer in the same time period as Justin Timberlake. She has since established herself as a successful actress, appearing in films such as The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan, and Shotgun Wedding. Lopez has also had a well-paid run with American Idol ($12 million for the first season she was a judge and $17 million for each season after). The businesswoman and philanthropist has also launched several fragrances and clothing lines, and has been involved in various charitable organizations, including the Maribel Foundation and the Lopez Family Foundation.

3. Will Smith

Will Smith had his start in the public eyes as a Rap artist in the late 1980s, before transitioning to a successful acting career in the 1990s. Smith got international acclaim for his roles in Men in Black, Independence Day, and our favorite, The Pursuit of Happyness. And of course, we must mention the one TV show that never fails to make you feel like a hopeful, dreamy teenager again, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Will Smith has garnered so much recognition and admiration for both his acting skills and music talent that he has won Grammy Awards, Academy Award nominations, and Golden Globe nominations. Talk about overachieving standards!

2. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s name became known to just about every single human in 2008 with the release of her debut album The Fame. She has since become one of the most influential musicians of her generation. In addition to her unforgettable music, Jazz tour with Tony Bennett, legendary Superbowl show, Lady Gaga has also effortlessly convinced us all of her acting qualities. She made her debut as an actress in the television series American Horror Story: Hotel, for which she received a Golden Globe Award. She has since starred in films such as A Star is Born (Gaga became the first woman in history to win an Academy Award, Grammy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award in one single year thanks to this one), and House of Gucci.

1. Ice Cube

Ice Cube, the legendary rapper who first introduced himself to the world as part of the Rap group N.W.A. in the late 1980s, has since excelled as a successful solo artist and actor. Ice Cube’s acting gigs that are now considered classics are Boyz n the Hood, Friday, and Barbershop. The man is considered a living, breathing, integral personality of American history, for he is one of Gangsta Rap’s founders alongside Ice T, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. He was (FINALLY!) inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016.

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