Among many forms of entertainment, perhaps it’s music and movies that people enjoy the most. Over the years, several artists and actors have shown audiences around the world their respective talents. As a result, they eventually developed a loyal and supportive fan base. However, besides their skill set, they also need to focus on another aspect of their career.
Creating good promotional materials can be as much of a good investment as mastering the art of acting or music – or both. Besides sharing posters and advertisements, these celebrities would also pursue other types of work. One such example is when an actor takes on a career in the music scene. However, perhaps we can talk about that some other time. For this article, we will be talking about musicians taking on roles in films.
Several musicians have taken the chance to star in a film. Although some couldn’t achieve the same degree of success as the film industry’s finest actors, more than a few artists managed to impress fans and newcomers with their acting chops. As a result, their fan base continues to grow. Now then, let’s talk about a few of these iconic stars, shall we?
Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard
Sometimes, a clichéd film can still be entertaining for moviegoers. Well, that was the case for 1992’s The Bodyguard. For the film, the iconic singer Whitney Houston landed an acting credit and played Rachel Marron. In its story, Marron receives several threatening letters from a fan. With the hopes of ensuring her safety and security, Marron’s manager hires a bodyguard, portrayed by Kevin Costner. Thanks to the duo’s wonderful chemistry, the film was a hit among audiences – throughout its time in theaters, it earned $410 million. Furthermore, Houston also showed more of her singing talents through the film’s soundtrack, I Will Always Love You.
David Bowie – Labyrinth
One of the music industry’s iconic and most interesting figures, David Bowie, was also quite a talented actor. Throughout his career, the musician would shift between releasing albums and starring in films. Even when it’s just a cameo role, Bowie carries such a high degree of charisma that he could almost steal the main actors’ thunder. One of his well-known roles is in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, where he plays Jareth the Goblin King. Although the film itself was a box office disappointment upon release, it became more loved by audiences over the years – perhaps Bowie’s enthusiastic performance as the antagonist played a big part in its eventual success. He also starred as Nikola Tesla in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige and as Thomas Jerome Newton in The Man Who Fell to Earth, his first starring role.
Prince – Purple Rain
For some films, an actor’s presence and star power are more than enough to make it transcend to greater heights. Such was the case for pop icon Prince, who starred in the film Purple Rain. Although most of the film was passable at best, audiences still had a good time thanks to the singer’s entrancing performance – looks like the film’s crew knew full well where to focus their investment money on. After all, like photographs, movies can be one way to preserve a person’s legacy. Through his music and Purple Rain, Prince left a long and lasting mark in the entertainment industry and his fans.
Eminem – Eight Mile
Having an artist land an acting credit on a film was once considered a quick and lazy way for studio executives to earn money. As a result, many moviegoers developed the mindset that singers don’t have that much talent in acting. However, when Eminem starred in the film Eight Mile, audiences and critics were proven otherwise. Like the previously mentioned stars in this article, Eminem showed everyone that he’s more than just a talented musician. The film is loosely based on the rapper’s life before becoming the successful figure that he is today. Thanks to his impressive performance as the relatable Rabbit, Eminem established himself as a more-than-capable actor. Furthermore, through the movie, the rapper also introduced to the world one of the most iconic records ever known today: Lose Yourself.
In more recent years, the degree of difficulty transitioning from the music and acting scene has become relatively easier. Several actors have pursued their interests in music, like Ryan Gosling with his rock band Dead Man’s Bones. Meanwhile, the same can also be said for singers, like Hailee Steinfeld starring in Bumblebee, and Nick Jonas in the new Jumanji movies. This way, stars – whether established or up and coming – have a chance to proudly showcase their talents and interests in the entertainment industry.
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