It’s true what they say: people should really stick to doing what they’re good at. Even in the celebrity world, if someone happens to be great at one thing, it doesn’t always translate well into another. Just because someone can sing well doesn't mean they'll make a successful leap to acting. Not that this'll stop them from trying.
Most celebrities feel they can use their fame and notoriety to branch out and explore other aspects of their talent, but sometimes when famous musicians take the plunge into the world of acting, it just doesn’t pan out they way they had hoped. Let’s take a look at 20 Times Musicians Tried To Act In Movies (And Failed).
20 Rihanna: Battleship
Rihanna slays in the world of music. She belts it out like no other and has the accolades to prove she is untouchable on the musical stage. Her incredible vocals and knack for weaving rhythm and lyrics has launched her to international fame. It’s strange to see her put her efforts on the big screen as this is not at all her forte. Her Sci-fi thriller Battleship was a box office flop and is now a smear on her career. She should stick to what she knows.
19 Mariah Carey: Glitter
Mariah Carey got slammed for her epic acting flop Glitter. The critics couldn’t find a singular good thing to say about this flick, and neither could her fans. Her acting debut was such a disaster that it remains part of popular conversation even now, 19 years after it was released. The movie bombed and according to Ranker, one critic went as far as saying Carey had “the acting range of a parakeet”.
18 Vanilla Ice: Cool As Ice
Cool As Ice was an epic fail in Vanilla Ice’s life. The movie was a depiction of a rebellious rapper who falls for a woman that has a very different personality and lifestyle. Wait…wasn’t Vanilla Ice a rapper? He had difficulties portraying a role that he actually lived in real life. Oh boy.
17 Britney Spears: Crossroads
Crossroads was supposed to be a road trip drama, but it ended up being a movie theatre flop instead. Nobody cares what it was about, because the very few people that ended up going to see it didn’t have anything nice to say. Critics slammed Britney and fans reacted just as poorly. She never tried her hand at the acting game ever again after that.
16 Michael Jackson: Moonwalker
All Michael Jackson had to do to gain success in the movie Moonwalker was to play himself. Something as simple as that is really not simple at all when acting is not your forte. That’s a lesson that Michael learned very quickly. Professionals can make anything look easy, and Michael Jackson does that when he’s singing on stage. Acting is not his strength, nor should it have been his focus.
15 Jessica Simpson: Dukes Of Hazzard
Jessica Simpson has seen mediocre success in everything she’s done, minus the movies. Trying her hand at acting further diminished her less-than-stellar reputation. Her role in the Dukes Of Hazzard seemed like more of a display of her outer beauty than an actual role as an actress. She was slammed for her lack of skill in the realm of acting and she disappeared from the public eye since then.
14 50 Cent: Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent’s acting skills are just not diverse enough to carry him through a movie. His attempt at movie stardom was with the flick Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ and he definitely fell flat. In fact, Samuel L. Jackson was requested to star in this movie and he didn’t want to touch it with a ten foot pole. It was a hard no for Jackson as he knew 50 Cent didn’t have what it takes to succeed in this industry.
13 Prince: Purple Rain
Prince actually tried to break out into the world of acting a few times, but his first try is the one we’re most focused on. Purple Rain was decent–ish. The premise of the movie was based on his career as a singer, so it translated fairly well since he was able to draw from his music and let it speak for itself. However, it proved that he couldn't really act up to par, because anything else he tried to act in was an absolute flop. Under The Cherry Moon was a good example of this!
12 Beyoncé: Austin Powers And Dream Girls To Name A Few
Beyonce tried and tried, but she just failed and failed. Acting isn’t her thing, and we’re not sure why it’s taking her so long to just admit that and move on. She tried her luck with Obsessed, The Fighting Temptations, Austin Powers, and Dreamgirls, and we’re begging her to stop. Queen B dominates the world of music and should put her focus there instead.
11 Madonna: Swept Away
Madonna’s acting career was “Swept Away” with the making of the movie by the same name. She should stick to singing. She’s an icon in the world of music and that’s where her heart and soul belong. Celebrities like Madonna need to understand that their incredible talents should be showcased in their raw form. Acting just doesn’t come naturally to her, but it’s evident that singing does. Her time should be focused on her career in the music industry, not in the world of acting.
