ScreenRant
The 10 Best Movies, Ranked, With Female Musicians In Leading Roles
BY MONICA COMAN
December 7, 2023
Mister D: I’d say there is a fistful of Bette Midler roles forgotten on this list. Oh, my heart! Must have been because of the deadline, I’m sure!
Several women musicians have put their acting skills to the test with lead roles in movies, and some proved they have what it takes to succeed.
SUMMARY
- Musicians like Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga have successfully transitioned into acting, showcasing their talent in films like Burlesque and A Star Is Born.
- While casting singers in movies can be risky, films like Hocus Pocus and Hotel Transylvania benefited from the performances of Bette Midler and Selena Gomez, respectively.
- Singers like Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé have proven their acting abilities in films like Hustlers and Dreamgirls, demonstrating their versatility and dedication to their craft.
Casting a singer in a movie is a real gamble. Acting requires specific preparation and talent, yet a lot of musicians have shown their interest in the job and still received the part. While acting and singing are two different domains, both involve some kind of performance and stepping into a role, and a lot of entertainers have tried both. However, only a handful of them showed they are natural performers with the understanding of how to tackle a new role and successfully become a completely different person.
For decades, movies opted to cast singers instead of actors, going back to Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and other big names from the music industry with no relation to acting. Maybe the studios counted on their popularity to bring people to the theaters, but some choices, like Rihanna in 2012’s Battleship and Britney Spears in 2002’s Crossroads, didn’t turn out to be inspiring options. However, many singers turned out to be real box office gems, which is why films continue to add entertainers in main or guest starring roles.
A handful of famous musicians have turned out to be surprisingly good actors despite being known primarily for their musical abilities.
10. Burlesque (2010)
Christina Aguilera As Alice Marilyn & Cher As Tess Scali
The 2010 movie Burlesque is about a small-town girl, Ali Rose, who moves to Los Angeles in pursuit of fame. Christina Aguilera of “Beautiful” and “Genie In A Bottle” fame put her acting and singing skills to work in the movie, where she starred alongside fellow singer Cher, Kristen Bell, and Julianne Hough. Burlesque isn’t based on a true story, but it draws inspiration from both Aguilera and The Pussycat Dolls. Although Aguilera’s main job isn’t acting, she and Cher deliver strong performances, making Burlesque a fun, relaxing film that includes a lot of good singing moments, sultry dances, and romance.
9. Hocus Pocus (1993)
Bette Midler As Winifred Sanderson
Hocus Pocus has turned into a Halloween staple, focusing on a villainous comedic trio of witches consisting of Bette Midler (Winifred “Winnie” Sanderson), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson), and Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson). “Wind Beneath My Wings” singer Bette Midler is primarily known as an entertainer more than an actor, but many know her now for her portrayal of Winifred Sanderson, where she managed to step completely out of her regular persona and become her character. The 1993 film is so beloved that, on September 30, 2022, Hocus Pocus returned with a sequel.
8. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Selena Gomez As Mavis Dracula
The Hotel Transylvania movies follow the vampire Dracula, his family, and his monster friends over four movies. The animated series stars Selena Gomez, who is famous for her singing career, with hits like “Love You Like a Love Song” and “Come & Get It.” Gomez has several acting credits under her belt as well, including her performance as Mabel Mora in the Hulu comedy Only Murders in the Building. Hotel Transylvania, which also stars Adam Sandler, is a fun, relaxing movie that works for the entire family — and Gomez lending her voice to Mavis is one of the best parts.
7. House of Gucci (2021)
Lady Gaga As Patrizia Reggiani
The biographical crime drama House of Gucci follows the famous fashion house Gucci and the murder of Maurizio Gucci. It stars “Born This Way” and “Poker Face” singer Lady Gaga, who, following the success of A Star Is Born, returned to acting as Patrizia Reggiani. Before filming the movie, Lady Gaga spoke with a Northern Italian accent for nine months, showing her commitment to the role and versatility as an actress. Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci is an interesting, glamorous film with a web of ambition, deceit, and manipulation at its core. Its A-list cast helps it stand out, and Lady Gaga’s performance is particularly memorable.
6. Hustlers (2019)
Jennifer Lopez As Ramona Vega
Hustlers stars Jennifer Lopez as Ramona, a stripper who pairs up with Constance Wu’s Destiny to scam rich men for money. Lopez is famous for being a singer and dancer, but she has also been acting for three decades. She underwent serious training to learn how to pole dance for Hustlers, and that’s covered thoroughly in her Jennifer Lopez: Halftime documentary. Her rigorous workouts and dance moves paid off, as Hustlers shows Lopez’s dedication and versatility as an actress. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, but sadly, the movie didn’t lead to an Academy Award nod for J. Lo.
5. Dreamgirls (2006)
Beyoncé Knowles As Deena Jones & Jennifer Hudson As Effie White
Dreamgirls is loosely based on the Motown girl group The Supreme, and it’s a glamorous and classy musical. It stars Beyoncé, one of the most famous female singers, known for hits like “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies.” With eight acting credits in her career, ranging from gospel musicals to psychological thrillers and Disney hits, one of Beyoncé’s best and most famous roles is in Dreamgirls. The musical put Beyoncé’s acting skills to work, and it even got her a Golden Globe nomination for her role. Dreamgirls also stars EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who is also primarily known as a musician.
4 . Selena (1997)
Jennifer Lopez As Selena Quintella-Perez
Selena is a biographical musical drama about Selena Quintanilla-Perez, following her life, short career, and murder. The 1997 film stars Jennifer Lopez, who wasn’t as famous back then as she is now. Lopez received positive reviews for her acting in Selena, leading to several award nominations and wins, including a nomination for Lopez at the Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. With many acting credits in her career, Selena is often considered one of Jennifer Lopez’s best films.
3. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Hailee Steinfeld As Nadine
The 2016 coming-of-age film The Edge of Seventeen follows the teenage struggles of Nadine, especially when it comes to her relationships with her family and friends. It stars Hailee Steinfeld, who is a singer primarily known for songs like “Capital Letters” and “Love Myself.” However, she has been in several films, and her breakout role was in the Western film True Grit (2010). The Edge of Seventeen is a fun, relatable movie about being a teenager, and it showcases Hailee Steinfeld’s acting skills despite not being her main area of expertise.
2. Moonstruck (1987)
Cher As Loretta Castorini
Moonstruck is a romantic comedy following a bookkeeper who falls in love with the brother of the man she’s supposed to marry. It stars Cher, whose legendary music career has led to many catchy tunes, including “Believe.” Cher’s career has also included a few hit movies. Besides Burlesque, she starred in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Tea With Mussolini, The Witches of Eastwick, and more. One of her most remarkable roles was in Moonstruck, where she played Loretta Castorini, starring alongside Nicolas Cage. The role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, a testament to her performance and the quality of the film overall.
1. A Star Is Born (2018)
Lady Gaga As Ally Maine
A Star Is Born follows a musician falling in love with a struggling artist. The 2018 movie was the fourth adaptation of the story, first released in 1937, and previous lead actresses included Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland, and Barbra Streisand. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga starred in the latest version, and although singing is the latter’s main career, she delivered a stunning performance. A Star Is Born proved Lady Gaga is a natural performer, and “Shallows” became incredibly popular. It even got Lady Gaga her first Academy Award for Best Original Song.
