The sight of Gwyneth Paltrow teetering in six-inch heels on the edge of Cee Los piano, warbling out a shaky rendition of Forget You was enough to make me swear off the Grammys for years to come. This wasn't an isolated incident, either. I could name a dozen actors and actresses who, when famous enough, decided to declare their musical talents to the world and drop albums, collaborations, and musical cameos on their unsuspecting fans. Frankly, I just dont understand. Aren't you famous enough, adored enough, and paid enough to be satisfied with acting? Maybe were just watching another side effect of the cult of celebrity; the glitterati are so famous, so adored, so well paid that they feel free to indulge their every whim, trusting their brilliance will cushion them. Actors/actresses aren't alone in this either. For every Minnie Driver (yes, she did release an album), Scarlett Johansson, and Eddie Murphy, there is the singer who tries their hand at acting. Weve seen the small, cameo-type roles, like Fergies performance in the 2006 remake of The Poseidon Adventure, Aerosmith and the other bands who showed up for Waynestock in Waynes World 2, and Tony Bennett in The Scout. These aren't so bad; the singer shows up for a scene or two, has a line of dialogue, sings a song and gets the heck out of Dodge. Then there are the singers who try to carry whole films, or a part large enough to be directly responsible for the film tanking. Examples include Usher (In the Mix, Light It Up), Britney Spears (Crossroads), Beyonce (Obsessed, Austin Powers: Goldmember, Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records), and Mariah Carey (Glitter). With every stiffly delivered line, deadpan stare, and missed mark, Im convinced that the singer in question is just another helpless victim of an over-inflated ego or an over-zealous management team. But what about the times when it works? What about the singers who transition effortlessly into successful film stars? Theyre like unicorns, ambidextrous, double-jointed, unicorns. And Im going to tell you about a few of them. Listed below are five of the greatest singers turned actors.
5. Mos Def
I must say, he really surprised me. In the 90s, Mos Def was an artist working with De La Soul, Talib Kweli in Black Star, producing his experimental solo work, and declaring himself a huge presence in underground hip hop/rap. He built his acting career in a similar manner, starting in small roles (Monsters Ball, Brown Sugar) and working his way into meatier and more substantial offerings. Next thing you know, hes being nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe (for his portrayal of Vivien Thomas in Something the Lord Made), working with up-and-coming directors (Michel Gondry in Be Kind Rewind), and starring in Indie fan-boy films (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy). Oh, and did I mention that he still performs, MCs, and takes time out for activism?