Music and cinema have been connected since the beginnings of filmmaking. For a movie to be a hit, not only a good director and a great cast are needed, but choosing the right soundtrack can greatly improve the audience's reception of a movie. In fact, soundtracks are often what make an epic scene stick in our minds forever: who could forget the iconic scene where Rocky Balboa trains for a fight to the beat of "Gonna Fly Now?"
Over time, many established singers from the music industry have ventured into the motion picture world. Some of them have lent their talents to the soundtrack of a movie or to voice a character, performances that earned several of them acknowledgement and awards. Such was the case of Adele, who won an Oscar for her interpretation of "Skyfall" for the eponymous James Bond movie Skyfall in 2013, as well as Phil Collins, who received an Oscar for his brilliant interpretation of music for Tarzan.
Yet, some singers took it a step further, and decided to act in movies. Many have not had enough luck, and their attempts to succeed in film have remained just a mere attempt. However, there were others who not only achieved their goal of starring in a movie, but they did it in such a successful way that they received Oscar nominations for their performances. That is why, in this article, we will look at eight singers who have conquered the acting world, earning an Oscar nomination for their work.
8 Cher
When this prestigious singer decided to give film and television a try, her artistic career was already established. Cher, who was convinced of her musical potential, decided to drop out of school as a teenager to sing in nightclubs, and shortly thereafter she was already recording as a studio singer for Phil Spector. Her transition to acting was a bit controversial, since the audience strongly associated her with the music world, so they had no faith in her as an actress. Yet, she impressed many with her performance in Silkwood, which later earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. A few years later, in 1988, she won her first Oscar for her performance in the film Moonstruck. Her acting career did not end there, as over time she continued to appear in several productions. Her last role was in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the 2018 film where she co-starred with Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep.
7 Mary J. Blige
She is one of the queens of contemporary R&B, soul and hip-hop. Mary J. Blige was born in New York, and since she was a little girl, she knew that her future would be related to music. On one occasion, she filmed herself singing in a karaoke machine and sent it to the manager of Uptown Records. The man was impressed by her voice and hired her. After 13 albums and 80 million records sold worldwide, Blige decided to step into acting, and her role in Mudbound was her most recognized part, earning her Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress and even Best Original Song.
6 Bette Midler
Bette Midler's career is rather rich and diverse. The singer, actress and stand-up comedian first entered the music comedy world at a very young age, taking part in the 1966 musical Fiddler on the Roof. In the 1970s, her musical career began to take off, and in 1972 she recorded her first album, The Divine Miss M. Nevertheless, Midler did not just stop with her career in music and musical comedy, as in 1980 she starred in the movie The Rose, a production inspired by the life of Janis Joplin, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. A second nomination came in 1991 for her role in the film For The Boys. Midler continued to appear in several films, and it was recently confirmed that she will be returning to play one of her best-known roles, Winnie Sanderson, the witch in the children's film Hocus Pocus, for its sequel Hocus Pocus 2 in 2022.
5 Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand was already a well-known performer in clubs and stages by the 1960s. Her voice and sparkling personality had earned her a spot among music's up-and-comers. Things only improved when, in 1968, she got cast for the role of Fanny Brice in the Broadway musical comedy Funny Girl. That part launched her to stardom, and after receiving a Tony nomination for her performance, she was chosen again for the same role, but this time in the movie adaptation, which was to be her debut on the big screen. This was a successful debut, as that year she won the Oscar for Best Actress, tying with Katharine Hepburn, who was nominated for The Lion in Winter. This was the only tie for Best Actress in the history of the Oscars. Streisand earned a second nomination in 1973, for her work in The Way We Were. Her last film to date was The Guilt Trip, in 2012, alongside Seth Rogan, Kathy Najimy, and Adam Scott.
4 Will Smith
Before he became a comedy king and subsequently a successful actor, Will Smith used to rap under the alias The Fresh Prince, performing as a duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff. Although the duo was highly praised, Smith's career began to grow when he starred in the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which was the first milestone in what would become his successful acting career. Since then, Smith worked hard for each one of his parts, and the payoff came in 2001 when he earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role as boxer Muhammad Ali in the film Ali. In 2006 he would get another nomination, for his role in the dramatic movie The Pursuit of Happyness. His latest film to date was King Richard, the 2021 production inspired by the life of Richard Williams, father and coach of Venus and Serena Williams. What's more, Smith was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard at the 2022 Academy Awards.
3 Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg's background as a singer is not nearly as known as his work as an actor. His first steps in the artistic world were within the music industry, leading the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. But it was his film career that made him a world-renowned artist. In 1994, he made his big screen debut with Renaissance Man, which was followed by hits such as Fear, his first starring role, Boogie Nights, and Planet of the Apes. He was only Oscar-nominated once so far, for his role as a supporting actor in the film The Departed, in which he co-starred with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.
2 Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga was already a superstar long before she approached the movie-making industry. The singer, who for years has been involved in controversies for her flashy outfits and music videos, started acting in 2015, starring in the show American Horror Story: Hotel, created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Still, the part that would consolidate her career as an actress would arrive three years later, when she starred in A Star is Born alongside Bradley Cooper. This is the third film adaptation of the original 1937 movie. Lady Gaga received her first nomination as a leading actress for her role as Ally, and also won an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Shallow." Her acting career continues to grow, and in 2021 she starred in House of Gucci, the movie that recounts the shocking real-life story of the family empire behind the Italian fashion house Gucci. In fact, many believe that Lady Gaga was snubbed in the Best Actress category for her performance as Patrizia Reggiani.
1 Frank Sinatra
There is not a single person in the world who is unfamiliar with Frank Sinatra's hits. The singer of My Way and Fly Me to the Moon was not limited to his musical career, and achieved critical acclaim as an actor, taking part in a number of productions. His first Oscar victory came in 1954, when he won the award for his supporting role in the film From Here to Eternity. His second nomination as a leading actor came in 1955, for his leading role in the film The Man with the Golden Arm. Throughout his career, he starred and participated in many films, documentaries, and TV shows.