6 Best Women In Music Turned Actors

Point blank, being one-dimensional in this industry doesn’t get you far. To truly ensure your longevity, you have to be a double hitter. You have to be able to dance, sing, act, write, juggle, own a farm — you name it. Some of our favorite musicians have also found just as much, if not greater, success in the acting world, proving that there are many more facets to them than what meets the eye. With superstar Rihanna about to hit the big screen once again in the upcoming Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the best women in music that have also graced our screens as well!

1. Cher 

Cher in Moonstruck

Cher has been one of the greatest music-to-acting successes. Her first solo movie role was in 1969’s Chastity, but she had much greater success with films like 1983’s Silkwood, alongside Meryl Streep, and most famously, her Oscar winning role for Best Actress in 1987’s Moonstruck. She most recently graced the big screen in 2010’s Burlesque alongside Christina Aguilera.

2. Beyonce 

Beyonce in Dreamgirls

Beyonce started her acting career with kitschier roles in films like The Pink Panther and Austin Powers In Goldmember, but quickly moved to higher profile roles in such films as Obsessed, Cadillac Records as Etta James and most famously, the Oscar nominated Dreamgirls — making a legitimate name for herself in the acting world along the way.

3. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga in American Horror Story: Hotel

In 2015 Gaga took a break from music to star in her first leading role on the fifth installment of American Horror Story, Hotel as the lusty vampire Countess Elizabeth. The role proved she was as multifaceted and she claimed to be, earning a Golden Globe for her performance. She returned for the 6th season in a smaller role and will star in the highly anticipated remake of A Star Is Born next year, alongside Bradley Cooper, carrying on a tradition of other songstresses that have stared in the movie like Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand. She will also go by her real name, Stefani Germanotta for the first time professionally.

4. Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton with the cast of Steel Magnolia’s

Dolly is one of Hollywoods go-to country stars when it comes to acting. She has a string of iconic films under her belt from 9 To 5 with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, to Steel Magnolia’s with Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas with Burt Reynolds. She most recently appeared in Joyful Noise alongside Queen Latifah.

5. Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah in Hairspray

Queen Latifah came onto the scene as a musician before she began her career on the screen, starting with her 1989 debut album All Hail The Queen, and has since released 6 other albums as well. Her work in TV and film has spanned over two decades with starring roles in TV shows like Living Single and FOX’s Star, and films like Beauty Shop, The Secret Life of Bee’s, Chicago, Hairspray and many more. She has also lended her voice to the Ice Age film series and hosted two daytime talk shows.

6. Jennifer Lopez

J-Lo has just about mastered every medium there is from dancing to singing to acting and hosting, you’ll be hard pressed to find something that Ms. Lopez hasn’t dabbled in at least once. She’s someone who also consistently serves up new music as much as she does work on the screen, having released 8 studio albums as well as starred in films like The Wedding Planner, Selena, Maid In Manhattan, Monster-In-Law and the TV show Shades of Blue.

Who are some of your favorite artists turned actors? Let us know!