Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
For most people, acting isn’t an easy job – we all can’t be Daniel Day-Lewis. A few rare lucky people can become triple-threats, but we largely cope with the singular talent we’re given and try to make things work. Singers are used to taking center stage and wowing crowds with their voices, songwriting abilities, or simple stage presence, so it only makes sense that a handful of them venture into the world of cinema to give acting a try. One Direction’s Harry Styles has been getting his fair share of buzz for his dramatic turn in Christopher Nolan‘s war epic Dunkirk, and word on the street is that he isn’t half-bad. He’s certainly not the first singer to take on the big screen; many have gone before him, and even fewer have done so successfully.
We’ve unfortunately been plagued with a slew of terrible singer-turned-actor vehicles (looking at you, Mariah Carey), but once in a while, we’re bestowed with a true gift. Stars like Madonna, Cher, Dolly Parton, and more have proven that many talented tunesters have the ability to take on the silver screen, and it’s a total joy to watch transitions like these. There have been too many attempts at this move to mention all of them, but we took the liberty of picking some of our favorite (and most cringeworthy) singer-turned-actor performances.
The Good
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Has there ever been a more joyous success story than Jennifer Hudson‘s? The American Idol contestant picked herself up after elimination and skyrocketed to success, and her emotional, jaw-dropping performance as Effie in Dreamgirls (which also utilized her awe-inspiring vocal prowess) proved to the whole wide world that she had a lot left to give.
Mark Wahlberg, Boogie Nights
Marky Mark left the funky bunch behind to tackle his dramatic side, and we’re so glad he did. While he’s certainly given us a handful of great performances in flicks like The Departed and Invincible, his show-stopping turn as Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s porn epic Boogie Nights proved that this kid was capable of a lot more than modeling underwear and rapping.
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness (and everything else)
Will Smith gained popularity for his spot-on comedic timing and delivery and gave us all-time faves like Men in Black and Independence Day, but it wasn’t until he took on drama The Pursuit of Happyness that we fully had a grasp on the range that existed under Smith’s surface. His performance as Chris Gardner feels like emotional olympics; whether he’s fighting for a better life for his son or overcome with humility and joy in the face of hard-earned success, Smith truly earned a spot amongst the top performers in Hollywood with this role.
Where to Stream The Pursuit of Happyness
The Okay
Jennifer Lopez, Selena
This is not a dig at J-Lo at all; she’s certainly talented, but the woman is just much more suited to the stage. Luckily, Selena gives her the opportunity to do so. The flick became something of a cult classic, and it’s not hard to see why, but as a seasoned singer and performer, she’s at something of an advantage filling the late singer’s shoes. Lopez borders on overacting here and there, but she definitely makes for a good rom-com lead – Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner are proof of that.
Justin Timberlake, The Social Network
In fairness to JT, he was up against a handful of wildly talented actors in David Fincher’s Facebook film, and he really did play the douchebag pretty perfectly. In general, however, he tends to lack range; every character he plays sits around the same area of mildly jerky or potentially sweet, and it’s hard to root for someone who doesn’t feel all that emotionally engaged.
Where to Stream The Social Network
The Very, Very Bad
Britney Spears, Crossroads
Some people are given one gift and meant to stick with it. Britney Spears is one of those people. In the guilty pleasure that is 2002’s Crossroads, watching her attempt to act through any scene is frankly cringeworthy. Brit can slay on the stage and dance up a storm, but Crossroads is living proof that she is not meant to be a thespian.
Jessica Simpson, The Dukes of Hazzard
Sure, the role is a pretty standard throwaway blonde bombshell part, but Simpson barely does anything with what she’s given. It’s a wonder that they were able to get through shooting this movie at all – with cheesy line delivery and wooden expressions, the flick feels more like a 100-minute objectification fest of Simpson than anything else.
