10 Musicians Who Are Actually Good Actors
These multi talented stars are proof that life isn't fair.
Deep down, most everyone thinks they could probably act if they wanted to, and that goes double for musicians. Once you’ve proven your talents as a tunesmith, it’s only natural that an opportunistic agent will look to put you forward for film roles, with the chance for exposure and easy money too tempting to pass up.
It doesn’t always work out, to say the least. Musicians of all talents - from Jessica Simpson to Prince - have tried their hand at the thespian game, only to realise it’s not quite as easy as standing on the right spot and saying your lines. It can lead to red faces and box office disasters.
When a musician pulls it off, though, the results can be superb. A non-professional actor brings something different to the screen, their lack of tutelage making their approach intrinsically distinct from the performers around them.
While the following may not all be the most technically gifted performers, they have utilised their star power and transferable skills to shine in the movies and on TV. Their talent is undeniable, as well as completely unfair.
10. Ed Sheeran
Playing yourself is harder than it can look. The temptation to self aggrandise, or to go too broad and ludicrous, is real, and many times celebrities’ attempts to gently send themselves up onscreen has backfired. Ed Sheeran pulls this off with real grace in Danny Boyle’s Yesterday. While the film itself is seriously flawed, the singer-songwriter is able to portray himself as a rounded character, hugely talented but full of self doubt, too.
He was impressive in The Bastard Executioner, too. Kurt Sutter’s 14th century drama was never going to be a hit, but Ed Sheeran’s presence was much more than stunt casting. He plays Sir Cormac, a soldier involved in some of the show’s grizzliest moments. It’s a mystery why Sheeran took this particular role - again, this show was never going to take off - but he does a great job of demonstrating his range.
Sheeran’s cheeky persona shines through in his onscreen appearances, but he evidently has a desire to prove his range beyond that. Expect a lot more from him.