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Top 10 Musicians turned Actors

These multi-talented stars have swapped centre stage for Hollywood's backlot studios. We're talking about musicians who have traded in their musical stylings for the big screen, and done it pretty darn well. From Mark Wahlberg and Will Smith to old timers Frank Sinatra and Cher, see who we've crowned the most successful musicians turned actors...

Our Top 10

Elvis

Elvis the Pelvis, aka Elvis Aaron Presley, is one of the most famous musicians of all time. Not only did he rein as The King of rock ‘n’ roll, but he also dominated the movie industry, starring in 33 films, spanning three decades. As was a popular theme in Hollywood during the late 50s/early 60s, Elvis struck a harmonious balance between movies and record releases – some Elvis films also exist as song titles (such as Jailhouse Rock, Love Me Tender and King Creole).

Will Smith

In the mid 80s rapper Will Smith, aka The Fresh Prince, found Grammy-award winning fame with DJ Jazzy Jeff. In 1990, NBC television approached Smith to do The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, catapulting the rapper from music star to prime time king. After six years on television, Smith branched out into feature films. 1995’s Bad Boys established Smith as a serious contender in the industry whilst 1996’s Independence Day propelled Smith into the mainstream. And since then he’s never looked back...

Marky Mark

Younger brother to New Kid on the Block, Donnie Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg found fame in the pop group. The younger Wahlberg soon tired of its squeaky clean image and departed for an edgier persona, under the guise of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Famous for his impressive physique and tight white briefs, Marky Mark had a successful run as a rapper, until 1993 when he decided to take on the movie industry. Boogie Nights, a rebooted version of The Italian Job and The Fighter have established Wahlberg as certified movie star.

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra ruled the swing era as both a solo artist and as part of the Rat Pack, alongside Sammy Davis Junior, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. Sinatra and his dapper Dressed pals set the bar for modern-day heartthrobs, George Clooney and Brad Pitt as the original smooth criminals of Ocean’s Eleven. Furthermore, long after a successful music career, Sinatra cemented his status as an actor with an Oscar-winning performance in From Here to Eternity.

Cher

Cher secured her musical standing as one half of the music duo Sonny and Cher. Their popularity soon evolved into a variety show, which won Cher a Golden Globe award. In the 70s Cher decided to fly solo, but it wasn’t until the early 80s that the songstress emerged as an icon. With big hair and barely-there outfits Cher took the charts by storm, and a film career soon followed. Most notably, in 1984 Cher received an Oscar nod for her performance in Silkwood.

Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand has secured critical acclaim via her big voice and large personality. In the early years (1960s) Streisand took to the stage like a force to be reckoned with, making regular appearance on variety shows and becoming a Broadway sensation. Streisand has produced 35 albums of both theatrical and cabaret standing. Not content with just singing to her adoring fans, Streisand branched out into film as both an actress and a director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, plus much more....

David Bowie

David Bowie made a name for himself as a glam rocker, with several hit albums such as Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World and most famously Ziggy Stardust. Dressed in bellbottoms, glitter, make-up and sporting a bright red coif, Bowie commanded the music scene throughout the 70s and 80s. At the height of his fame, Bowie set himself the new challenge of acting. In between working on albums, the rocker starred in films such as The Hunger, Labyrinth and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

Bette Midler

Similar to Streisand, Bette Midler has been nominated for two Academy Awards, won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a special Tony Award. During her 40 plus career, she has embraced both music and acting. Initially a stage diva famed for her larger than life vocals, Midler moved back and forth between making records, acting on stage and making appearances in films such as Hocus Pocus, Then She Found Me and The Stepford Wives.

Justin Timberlake

All rounder Justin Timberlake kicked off his career as a performer on The Mickey Mouse Club, before establishing himself as a pop star in boy-band ‘N Sync. In 2002 Timberlake branched out solo with his album Justified, transitioning from boy-band member and Britney Spears’ boyfriend to hot property overnight. A darker role in the 2004 film Alpha Dog showed off the pop star’s acting talents, and since then Timberlake has gone onto to carve out a reputable career as one of the industry’s most up and coming actors in films such as The Social Network

Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf, aka Marvin Lee Aday, took over the music industry like a bat out of hell in the late 70s. While his musical success in the US has been fickle, Meat Loaf ranks 23rd for the total number of weeks spent in the European charts. Meat Loaf’s first film appearance dates back to 1975 in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the next 30 years Meat Loaf’s camp persona has continued to pop up in films such as Wayne’s World, Fight Club and in more recent years BloodRayne.

Jennifer Trevorrow