15 Musicians Who Became Successful Actors Against All Odds

Musicians may put on theatrical shows and find harmonies in the most unexpected places but that doesn't mean their prowess translates to the silver screen. There are plenty of famous musicians who attempt acting only to creep back into their original calling. Some musicians, however, manage to become successful actors against all odds.

Perhaps it's not the translation between music and acting that propels figures to prominence but an inherent star power. Some famous folks like Cher and David Bowie bring an unflappable aura to every project. Others, however, like Eminem or Ice Cube manage to transition almost 180 degrees from the thing that made them famous. Let's explore 15 musicians who became successful actors against all odds.

As the first prominent white rapper since Vanilla Ice, Eminem gained a reputation for irreverent, quickly delivered wordplay. People thought of him as a joker until he starred in his autobiographical film "8 Mile." Though he was playing himself, Eminem (Marshall Mathers) showed surprising heart and nuance as an actor.

His time in the boy band NYSNC brought him unparalleled fame and plenty of tabloid front covers. After being dubbed the "King of Pop," Timberlake threw everyone for a loop when he transitioned to acting. Over time his acting prowess went from a fluke to a serious career remix with celebrated roles in films like "The Social Network."

In the late 1990s and early aughts, Ludacris helped bring the distinctively "dirty" southern rap style to the mainstream. After a chance role in the original "Fast & Furious," Ludacris became a serious contender. Since then he's starred in films like "Crash," "Hustle & Flow," and "Show Dogs."

Icelandic singer and musician Bjork made her name with a three-octave vocal range and an eccentric sense of showmanship. Though an avant-garde musician, Bjork made an unexpected yet successful transition to acting when she starred in the Palme d'Or-winning film "Dancer in the Dark." Since then, she's popped in several other movies like "The Northman."

As one part of N.W.A, rapper Ice Cube was loud, controversial, and dangerous. He helped usher in the wave of West Coast rap and earned many accolades in the process. Against all odds, however, Ice Cube transitioned to acting. His first roles in films like "Boyz n the Hood" were expected. His transition into a family man with roles in films like "Are We There Yet?" and serious dramas like "Three Kings" was less expected.

Throughout the 70s and 80s, musician and singer Tom Waits became known for his gravelly, baritone voice and consistent chronicling of the downtrodden and marginalized. He became famous for his music and earned critical respect, but Waits didn't rest on his laurels. Instead, he began appearing in films, receiving accolades for roles in "Coffee and Cigarettes," "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," and "Licorice Pizza."

When he rose to prominence as a member of the hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Mark Wahlberg seemed like a flavor of the week. He defied everyone's expectations, however, once he started appearing in 90s films. Cut to now and Wahlberg is one of Hollywood's leading men, appearing in countless films including blockbusters "Planet of the Apes" and "Deepwater Horizon."

Dwight Yoakam appeared on the music scene with a distinct tenor voice and a body of work drawing upon various subgenres of country music. This brought him accolades and commercial success, but Yoakam surprised everyone with his acting prowess. He's earned critical acclaim for roles in films like "Red Rock West," "Sling Blade," and "Panic Room."

After gaining worldwide fame for her debut album and its slew of hit singles, Lady Gaga became known as the pop provocateur, stunning and bewildering the public in equal measure with her next-level fashion sense and showmanship. "Diva-ness" doesn't necessarily translate to acting prowess, but Lady Gaga proved everyone wrong when her remake of the film "A Star Is Born" won an Academy Award.

No one made the transition from singing to acting as seamlessly as Mandy Moore. After becoming a pop sensation at the turn of the millennium with hits like "Candy" and "I Wanna Be With You," Moore made the switch. She started with bit parts in several films, before earning critical acclaim for her part in "A Walk to Remember." Since then, she's become a Hollywood staple with roles in "Saved!," "Midway," and Disney's "Tangled."

In the mid-1970s, Kris Kristofferson helped country music transition away from the polished Nashville sound into something more raw, unbridled, and outlaw-esque. In the process, he earned three Grammy Awards and serious critical distinction. When he transitioned to acting no one knew what to expect. He silenced every critic, however, when he won a Golden Globe Award for the original "A Star Is Born."

Meatloaf burst onto the music scene with staying power thanks to his powerful, multifaceted singing voice. His status as musical royalty was cemented with his "Bat Out of Hell" album trilogy, which sold a combined 100 million records. Around that time, he starred in the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." This led to roles in over 50 critically and commercially successful films including "Wayne's World," "Fight Club," and "The Salton Sea."

No one has held onto fame as gracefully as Cher. She first rose to fame in 1965 as one part of the folk duo Sonny & Cher. From there, she ventured solo, earning scores of hits and the title "Goddess of Pop." Slowly but surely, she began appearing in movies with remarkable success. Besides a long list of well-regarded films, Cher won an Academy Award for Best Actress for 1987's "Moonstruck."

Much like his glacially-named relative Ice Cube, Ice T burst onto the music scene with dangerous, controversial songs like "Cop Killer." Against all odds, however, Ice T would end up playing a police officer on the long-running show "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." He's also starred in well-regarded films like "New Jack City," "Tank Girl," and "The Other Guys."

No celebrity has transitioned between eras as successfully as David Bowie. He started as a singer-songwriter whose laundry list of albums made him one of the most influential musicians in history. In the mid-1970s, Bowie starred in the cult class "The Man Who Fell to Earth." This paved the way for iconic roles in films like "Labyrinth," "The Last Temptation of Christ," and "The Prestige."