Musicians trying to act

What does he play?

But that aside, weren't there a few soap opera guys who became music "stars?" I'm afraid to use the term "musician" to describe them.

The Beatles, of course, made movies. But I wouldn't call them actors. There are a few singers, like Cher and Barbara Streisand, but I don't thihk that's what you are looking for though.

...And there is Harpo Marx.

 

Mick Jagger has played in some movies, Keith Richards plays in the latest "Pirates of Carribean" and I remember that Lemmy had made appearances in several films.

As for the opposite, Hugh Laurie has just released an album, Russell Crowe has played in few bands and released few albums and perhaps the actor with the most noticeable career in music is Jack Black.

 

Reversing the trend is the fact that Kevin Costner has a band. I don't know if he's any good, but I do know that I don't have much interest in finding out.

Billy Bob Thorton has a band. See above for my position on that one!

Didn't Joaquin Phoenix try to become a musician?

Speaking of Costner, didn't Tom Petty have a small role / cameo in The Postman? I don't know, I never saw the film, and see above to figure out how likely I am to see it.

Also on the Costner trend, he played opposite Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard, where she basically played herself. I think the aforementioned term "epic fail" applies here.

Didn't Mariah Carey do a film called Butterfly that hit rock bottom and tried to keep digging?

David Bowie was the Goblin King in Labyrinth. That movie creeped me out big time.

 

Justin Timerberlake was great in The Social Network.

Britney Spears was supposed to have been poor at playing herself in Crossroads. Beyonce was grand in Goldmember and Dreamgirls. Jennifer Hudson got great reviews for the latter.

A load of rappers have had parts or bit parts but I wouldn't know them too well.

A few actors have done singles. Kate Winslet for the christmas carol cartoon and Nicole Kidman with Robbie Williams. Scarlett Johannson did an album of Tom Waits covers and then did a second with a musician. I don't know if they're any good. Jenny Lewis, formerly of Rilo Kiley and now under her own name, was a child actress though not a star so I'm not sure how much she counts.

 

Flea from the Chili Peppers does some minor roles. I think he is one of the German terrorists in The Big Lebowski.

 

I think you mean Glitter, Butterfly was a song of hers. Anyway, she actually did became a good actor... at least much better than in Glitter. You can watch WiseGirls and Precious.

Here in Asia, there's a ton of singers turning to actors or vice-versa. And some even holds places in both department. Some of the more notables are Jay Chou (Taiwanese) and Rain (South Korean). I'm not that familiar with Rain but Jay Chou is definitely a genius in both department. He even wrote and directed a pretty good movie, although it was aimed at teenagers.

 

Her Tom Waits tribute is terrible. It just sounds droning. Which is a shame, cause I like her singing in Lost in Translation. I guess it's just hard to cover a Tom Waits song since most just sound best in his voice.

Talking of Tom Waits and acting, I quite like his (I just like Tom Waits period ). But I guess most of the roles he plays aren't that dissimilar from the Tom Waits character he often plays during interviews and tv appearances and stuff.

 

The Beatles.

 

While Madonna was considered an epic fail in acting, we should remember that she did well in Evita.

Some teen singers who had tried to get into acting that I can think of were Britney Spears, Mandy Moore, and Jessica Simpson. Of the 3, Moore had the best performance. Christina Aguilera also just recently had Burlesque. And Justin Timberblake had a number of films also.

How about Kris Kristopherson. He's an accomplished singer and had some decent acting in his numerous movies.

Funny man Eddie Murphy once tried to cross over to singing, in fact had a couple or so big hits at that.

Jazz singer Norah Jones also tried her luck in Blueberry Nights which was directed by a premier Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai. Her acting was decent.

 

Alanis Morissette played God in Dogma and MJ did Moonwalker, although I would consider it more like an extended music video than a movie.

 

Kid Rock did Joe Dirt!

 

Jack Black.