Skip to main content
  • News
    • MTV News
    • Trending News
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Taylor Swift
    • Kim Kardashian
  • Music
    • Music Highlights
    • Music Videos
    • Charts
    • Playlists
    • EMAs
    • MTV PUSH
    • Artists
  • Shows
    • Latest Shows
    • The Charlotte Show
    • Geordie Shore
    • Ex on the Beach
    • Just Tattoo Of Us
    • Teen Mom UK
    • The Royal World
  • Movies
    • Movies Highlights
    • New Movies Coming Soon
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Trailers
    • Moana
  • Travel
    • Videos
  • Style
  • Life
    • Life
    • MTV Breaks
    • Sex
    • WTF
    • SRS
    • Travel
    • Fitness
    • Generation Change
  • Pictures
  • Win
  • MTV Play
  • TV Guide
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Search
  • Pictures
  • Win
  • MTV Play
  • TV Guide
Home
  • News
    • MTV News
    • Trending News
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Taylor Swift
    • Kim Kardashian
  • Music
    • Music Highlights
    • Music Videos
    • Charts
    • Playlists
    • EMAs
    • MTV PUSH
    • Artists
  • Shows
    • Latest Shows
    • The Charlotte Show
    • Geordie Shore
    • Ex on the Beach
    • Just Tattoo Of Us
    • Teen Mom UK
    • The Royal World
  • Movies
    • Movies Highlights
    • New Movies Coming Soon
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Trailers
    • Moana
  • Travel
    • Videos
  • Style
  • Life
    • Life
    • MTV Breaks
    • Sex
    • WTF
    • SRS
    • Travel
    • Fitness
    • Generation Change
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Search

Lady Gaga

  • Main
  • Videos
  • Pictures
  • News

9 Singers and Rappers Who Became Movie Stars

From Beyoncé to Rihanna, only the best can do it all...

  • Share to Facebook
  • Tweet to Twitter
  • Share to Google plus
Saturday, September 1, 2018 - 19:40

As you may have heard, reviews from the world premiere of Lady Gaga's movie star debut in A Star Is Born are outrageously good, with critics hailing her performance as "mesmerising" and predicting an Oscar win.

The film is the third remake of the 1937 original, with the last adaptation being the 1976 musical starring Barbara Streisand as the leading lady. This time Gaga is the star that will be born while Bradley Cooper - who directed and co-wrote the movie! - plays a country musician who falls in love with her.

Getty Images

The Guardian has given their reimagined story five stars, the audience at the Venice Film Festival premiere gave an eight minute standing ovation (!!) when it ended and basically it sounds like Lady Gaga might be one of the best success stories of a singer moving into film. Although, she's certainly not the first one to do it.

Pop queens, pop princesses, legends, rappers - so many have made the move before, and we want to take a look back at some classic breakout moments...

Britney Spears

Getty Images

In 2002, ultimate pop princess Britney Spears was three albums deep into her career and known for releasing epic, mini-blockbuster music videos for every new single. So it was hardly a surprise that she would've been into acting but many were when she starred in Crossroads, a coming-of-age tale about three childhood best friends finishing school and trying to figure out what the hell life is all about. It got some undeservingly harsh reviews at the time but why would you send 45-year-old dads to review a rom-com aimed at teens? It's a classic and Britney is genuinely great in it - and that is that!

Eminem

Getty Images

In the same year that Britney played a high school leaver, Eminem starred in the gritty semi-autobiographical drama 8 Mile. Loosely based upon his own upbringing in Detroit, it saw him battle with being poor, toxic family relationships, lust and love with Britanny Murphy, and trying to be taken seriously as the only white rapper in the room. Yes, it's as good as it sounds.

Madonna

Getty Images

Madonna, the Queen of Pop, starred in films from the very beginning of her career, making herself known as both a singer and actress simultaneously. From Desperately Seeking Susan to Dick Tracy, she had several box office successes between 1985 and 1992, however her signature movie is undoubtedly Evita. The superstar won the 1997 Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance, which was critically acclaimed worldwide and responsible for transforming her reputation at the time. The success lead to the second imperial phase of her music career - Ray of Light, Music - in a way we think Gaga could see from A Star Is Born.

Beyoncé

Getty

Beyoncé made her film debut in 2002 with Austin Powers In Goldmember as the hilarious and oh-so-fabulous Foxxy Cleopatra, although her big movie star moment happened five years later when she starred in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls. Alongside Jennifer Hudson, the superstar delivered an absolutely incredible performance and it still stands as one of her best, if not the best, so far.

Christina Aguilera

With a voice like that, we always knew that Christina Aguilera would give us a spectacularly campy and brilliant musical one day, and she certainly didn't let us down. The pop icon made her film debut in 2010 when she starred opposite Cher (!!) in Burlesque, an original movie about a small town girl who finds her calling as the leader of a burlesque troupe. It's a classic rom-com with a ton of bangers, gorgeous looks and vocals for days. A must-see!

Rihanna

At this point, Rihanna has starred in quite a few films but none of the roles were necessarily that big, despite her often being pushed as the face of them in the promotional campaigns ($$$). That is until this year when we were blessed with the magical movie that is Ocean's 8 - the all-female sequel to the original trilogy. With a star-studded cast featuring Sandra Bullock and Sarah Paulson, Rihanna more than holds her own as she steals just about every single scene she's in with her wicked humour, expressions and general delivery, never mind her unbelievably cool style. We need more of this!

Nicki Minaj

Credit: Nicki Minaj

Rap queen Nicki Minaj made her movie debut in 2014's The Other Woman, a hilarious rom-com starring Cameron Diaz. Nicki played Diaz's funny-as-hell assistant and she was a total natural on camera, which is hardly surprising with such a dynamic personality that has constantly evolved, shocked and surprised us over the years. A harmless, fun watch! We'd like to see Nicki in something a bit deeper next time round, which is hopefully soon.

Whitney Houston

Getty Images

Queen. Arguably one of the best pop star-turned-movie star stories ever is Whitney Houston. She made her acting debut in The Bodyguard, the second highest-grossing film worldwide of 1992 with the best-selling soundtrack ever (as in all time!), opposite Kevin Costner. She plays a superstar diva in distress as her life descends into chaos when a stalker begins harrassing her, and it's just such a brilliant movie. Dramatic, romantic, musical, funny, sweet, scary, sad - it really has it all. Miss Whitney did that!

Words: Ross McNeilage

Latest News

Arlo Parks - MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
Arlo Parks Has Her Sights On Acting & Directing
AWA - MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
AWA Says Her Debut Album Is ‘Very Vulnerable and Open’
220 KID - MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
220 KID Tells Us The Heroic Reason Behind His Name
Alfie Templeman - MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
Alfie Templeman Just Wants To Make You Smile
MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
Voting For MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021 Is Open!
Get To Know - Iann Dior
Get To Know: iann dior
Get To Know - J.I the Prince of N.Y
Get To Know: J.I The Prince Of N.Y
Khloé Kardashian Reacts To “Disrespectful” Typo On Throwback Family Christmas Card
Shawn Mendes Reveals How He And Camila Cabello Are Spending Christmas
Selena Gomez Wins An Award From Peta For Her Vegan Rare Beauty Makeup Collection
Get To Know - Holly Humberstone
Get To Know: Holly Humberstone
Addison Rae And Rachael Leigh Cook Recreate She’s All That Scene On TikTok
The Weeknd - Blinding Lights - Music Video
The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' Was MTV’s Most Played Video Of 2020
Cardi B Surprises Offset With A Lamborghini In Celebration Of His 29th Birthday
Kylie Jenner Named Highest Paid Celebrity Of 2020 With Nearly $550 Million
Dixie D’Amelio Defends Herself After A Fan Doubted Her Feelings For Noah Beck
Shawn Mendes Opens Up About “Frustrating” Rumours Surrounding His Sexuality
Dove Cameron Confirms Her Split From Thomas Doherty After Four Years Together
Timothée Chalamet Transforms Into Harry Styles For His SNL Hosting Debut
The Kardashian-Jenner Family Have Signed A Multi-Year Content Deal With Hulu

More From Lady Gaga

BTS at the 2020 MTV EMA
2020 MTV EMA Winners List - BTS, Little Mix & Lady Gaga Win Big
Lady Gaga - 911 - Music Video
Lady Gaga
911
VMAs
Lady Gaga Performs "Chromatica" Medley Ft. Ariana Grande (Live - 2020 VMAs)
VMAs
VMA 2020: lady gaga wins the first-ever tricon award
Ariana Grande And Lady Gaga To Perform ‘Rain On Me’ At An Outdoor Location For The MTV VMAs
Lady Gaga Scratched Ariana Grande’s Eye In Behind-The-Scenes Clip For ‘Rain On Me’
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me - Music Video
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande Lead 2020 VMA Nominations
Lady Gaga & BLACKPINK - Sour Candy - Lyric Video
Lady Gaga & BLACKPINK
Sour Candy (Lyric Video)
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me - Music Video
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
Rain On Me
Lady Gaga - Stupid Love - Music Video
Lady Gaga
Stupid Love
Lady Gaga’s Golden Globes Dress Is 'Going To Auction' Amid Claims It Was Stolen
Watch Out Rihanna, Lady Gaga Is Reportedly Dropping Her Own Beauty Line

Trending Articles

Charli D’Amelio Sets The Record Straight About A Fake “Leaked” Picture Online
10 Things Your Heartbroken Friend Needs To Hear
21 Types Of People You'll Find In Every Friendship Group
Celebrity
10 Celebrities Who Have Some Seriously Kinky Sex Likes In The Bedroom
Arlo Parks - MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
Arlo Parks Has Her Sights On Acting & Directing
MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
Voting For MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021 Is Open!
18 Most Naked Of Naked Moments To Have Ever Hit Geordie Shore
AWA - MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2021
AWA Says Her Debut Album Is ‘Very Vulnerable and Open’
  • Contact Us
  • Access Services
  • Website Terms
  • Mobile Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • MTV Jobs
  • MTV Press
  • Anti-Slavery
  • Global Tax Policy Statement
Hit us with some keywords!