Third article in our 5 weeks series on Campaigning for an Oscar!
By Littlebells
In the music and acting industry, there is what seems to be an infinite number of artists. However, there are not many singers who transitioned to the screen that would go on to garner the coveted Oscar. Listed below are those who have left quite an impression on the music and acting world.
Frank Sinatra
Best Supporting Actor: “From Here to Eternity”
The scene, in which Maggio meets Prew and Lorene in the bar after he walks off guard duty, was actually Frank Sinatra’s screen test for the part of Maggio. To impress the director, Sinatra ad-libbed olives as dice and pretended to shoot craps. The entire sequence was kept and used in the picture. Sinatra got the role due to his wife (at the time) Ava Gardner, for suggesting him to Columbia head, Henry Cohn. Sinatra had hit a low point in his career, so Cohn figured it would be cheap for him to cast Sinatra. Sinatra earned $8,000 for the film.[1]
Will Smith
Best Actor (nominated): “Ali”
Best Actor: “Pursuit of Happyness”
Rita Moreno
Best Supporting Actress: “West Side Story”
Moreno is the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar and one of 12 actors to have an EGOT: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. At the age of 80, she is still going strong making several television appearances.[2]
Barbra Streisand
Best Actress: “Funny Girl”
Liza Minnelli
Nominated for best actress: The Sterile Cuckoo
Best Actress: Cabaret
Click here to view
Minnelli was the second choice to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret. The part was first offered to Barbra Streisand, but she turned it down. She earned $250,00 for the role. She also is an honorary EGOT.[3]
Bing Crosby
Nominated for best actor: The Country Gil and The Bell’s of St. Mary’s
Won: Going My Way
Julie Andrews
Best Actress: “Mary Poppins”
Best Actress (nominated): “The Sound of Music”
Best Actress (nominated): “Victor Victoria”
Was quoted, “Does Mary Poppins have an orgasm? Does she go to the bathroom? I assure you, she does.”[4] Initially Andrews was hoping to get the role of Eliza Doolittle, but the role went to Audrey Hepburn. Andrews took Mary Poppins instead after taking a call from the director shortly after giving birth to her daughter the same day![5]
Jennifer Hudson
Best Supporting Actress: Dream Girls
As we continue into the 21st Century, are there any singers/performers that are currently transitioning into the acting community that have the potential to become an Academy Award Winner? Why do you think it is such a small handful of those singer/actors who have been able to make such a successful metamorphosis?
* This article is not to be confused with actors who became singers. *
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
Fantastic article, I love it when you talk about music/movie stuff.
Oh CR, I’m so glad u liked it! It was so fun researching all the little tidbits of random information. Hahaha!!! I look forward to our discussion. 🙂
Seems like a lot of serious musicians suddenly decide they want to be actors. Is there a process they go through to make this switch or conversion to the acting camp? And will this impact the likelihood that they can earn Oscars.
Mick Jagger films: “The Man from Elysian Fields,” “Enigma,” “Performance”
David Bowie: “August,” “The Prestige,” “Basquiat”
Jon Bon Jovi: “New Year’s Eve”, “Cry Wolf,” “Pay It Forward”
Courtney Love: “Straight to Hell Returns,” “Trapped,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt”
Beyonce’ films: “Obsessed,” “Cadillac Records,” “Dreamgirls”
YOU FORGOT JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE!!! Hahaha!!! Great questions and I will come back this afternoon to answer.
Oh! U mean this guy……
Yeah-yuuuh!!!! 🙂
I’m still working on your questions.
I think this guy is on the right track. He is focused and driven and remind me of the path that Smith has taken…
Yes, I can see him follwoing a similar career path to Will Smith too. I did at one time think he couldn’t act but I hadn’t really seen any of the films he was in. Then I saw Social Network and completely changed my mind! He also seems to be pretty determind to learn his craft too and expands the types of roles he chooses. I think he can go far in the acting world if he’s given the time to grow!
Yes, yes, yes Ozzie! And you brought up a great point: determined to learn his craft.
I think the truly successful ones are the artists who decide that if they are going to take on a new genre of a career, they focus on it heavily. If they only dabble here and there a little, there is no way to get better or be taken seriously. JT’s singing career is solid. If he doesn’t do anything with it for the next ten years to solely focus on a film career, I’m pretty positive it wouldn’t affect him, MEANING, he could come back to music and be fine. Wow that was a huge run on sentence!!! 🙂
But I think you catch my drift…
CR,
Great videos. I never knew about Mick Jagger and well, Courtney Love almost made a blip on my radar, but not really. 🙂
As far as I know, there is no “process” for which these musicians go through to get into acting. I think it’s either something they decide they want to do, something their management team thinks will help their client (whatever their motives), or both. And as you can see, not everyone makes that transition.
It is a very fine line in my opinion that allows a first a foremost singer to move into acting and to do so well in that field as to receive nominations and wins. We go back to the “it” factor. Some people have it and some don’t. There are many great singers who are great performers, but when it comes to acting, it’s just not there. I think with the ones listed in the article, they had “it”. They were blessed with not only the talent to sing but had the ability to transition into the acting world and still give us high quality performances.
I think Beyonce has potential but I think she needs to stop taking singing roles. That scary movie she did (obviously it didn’t have an impact because I can’t remember the name of it) was a start. I think for some singers, taking roles that are so different from their image is what will propel them to be taken seriously as actors. ????? Maybe???
Ummm…I think I had more, but I can’t remember it now. I look forward to our discussion. 🙂
We should add Jennifer Lopez as well.
I think actors need a great voice to be compelling on screen. There have been many actors where the director re-dubbed their voice because it did not fit the character. For example Andie MacDowell in Greystoke her own southern twang was so thick Glenn Close voice was used instead. I think singers becoming actors is not a big stretch IMO!
OB,
I guess you’re right but wasn’t she a dancer who became an actress who became a musician????? I’m having trouble remembering…
That’s true. She was a dancer who became an actor who then did singing. My focus was on those who started strictly as singers and then transitioned to film…:)
Oops! I guess your right… Perhaps that’s why her film career did not work out. She spread herself to thin.
I made an error in my article that I would like to correct: Will Smith did NOT win Best Actor for “Pursuit of Happyness”. He was nominated but the Oscar went to Forest Whitaker for “The Last King of Scotland”. I still consider that pretty dang successful considering how far he has come since the Fresh Prince days.
Thought I would share those who were nominated along side these actors and actresses:
Frank Sinatra: Eddie Albert “Roman Holiday”, Brandon De Wilde “Shane”, Jack Palance “Shane”, and Robert Strauss “Stalag 17”
Rita Moreno: Fay Bainter “The Children’s Hour”, Judy Garland “Judgement at Nuremburg”, Lotte Lenya “The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone”, and Una Merkel “Summer and Smoke”
Barbra Streisand: She actually tied with Katharine Hepburn who starred in “The Lion Winter; Patricia Neal “The Subject Was Roses”, Vanessa Redgrave “Isadora”, and Joanne Woodward “Rachel, Rachel”
Bing Crosby: Charles Boyer “Gaslight”, Barry Fitzgerald “Going My Way”, Cary Grant “None but the Lonely Heart”, and Alexander Knox “Wilson”
Julie Andrews: Anne Bancroft “The Pumpkin Eater”, Sophia Loren “Marriage Italian Style”, Debbie Reynolds “The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Kim Stanley “Seance on a Wet Afternoon”
Jennifer Hudson: Adriana Barraza “Babel”, Cate Blanchett “Notes on a Scandal”, Abigail Breslin “Little Miss Sunshine”, and Rinko Kikuchi “Babel”
Liza Minnelli: Diana Ross “Lady Sings the Blues”, Maggie Smith “Travels with My Aunt”, Cicely Tyson “Sounder”, and Liv Ullman “The Emigrants”
Ok, now I got everyone!!! 🙂
Wow! This is impressive when u look at all of them listed like this.
I agree.
Ok, I just had to come back and comment on some of these nominations. Now I don’t know who half the people are in the first four wins, but to have a Moreno, a talented Puerto Rican, beat out Judy Garland and Fay Bainter is just fantastic! She was up against some very talented women and I am so glad she got the award. She gave an incredible performance as Anita.
And Barbra! Going up against Katharine, Vanessa, and Joanne??? Wowie zowie! Then you have Andrews and Hudson up against other amazing actresses. I am so impressed with what they were able to accomplish. There was obviously some stiff competition! 🙂
SEEMS LIKE a lot of serious actors are musicians or were always musicians. Is there a process they go through to make this switch or conversion to the musician camp? And will this impact the likelihood that they can win Oscars (or Grammy’s for that manner)?
Russell Crowe Musicals: “Blood Brothers,” “Grease,” “Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom”
Keanu Reeves Soundtracks: “Sweet November”, “Me and Will,” “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey”
Jeff Bridges Soundtracks: “Crazy Heart”, “Surf’s Up,” “Tideland”
Zooey Deschanel Soundtracks: “Yes Man,” “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Bridge to Terabithia”
Robert Pattinson Soundtracks: “Twilight”, “How to Be”
Great list! I think these actors are doing music more for the fun and enjoyment it brings them than for the “Oh I want to be a famous singer and have my albums go platinum!!!”
I think you’re right. But because they are in it for the right reasons that’s all the more reasons we really should see more of them performing?
Yep! 🙂
LB-
Cher is someone who we forgot to mention. She won for Best Actress in “Moonstruck.”
Do u think her popularity from her variety show on helped her make the transition into film easier? or Do u think it was her music career?
Because it is probably huge, I won’t characterize her musical fanbase but I would assume it was her variety show. There she showed some capacity to act.
I think many of the most recent musicians inspired directors because of their work in music videos. Again something a kin to acting experience.
look. at. that. HAIR!!!! ahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
LB-
U mentioned singers who take roles that are not singing roles will help them get taken seriously. Why is that? Do u think moviegoers or critics are the ones who are more critical of singers trying to capitalize on their popularity as a musician in a film?
Ooow, can I join in with this one?
Go ahead, she wrote that hours ago.
D’oh! Scatter brain tonight!
I think that they should take roles that don’t involve singing to avoid being type cast. Everybody knows that they are singers, they already have that image well set. To someone who doesn’t really think about the differences between acting and singing, it appears to be an easy move to make too. They would get comments like “They just took a role which was basically themselves. That’s not acting!” I think it’s best to avoid those type of roles until they are established as actors.
ITA I could not have said it any better. Ozzie!
CR,
I’m so sorry I have not answered these questions yet. I really was out of it yesterday.
I think as a singer, studios, critics, fans, non fans know their “public persona”. If they take roles that stay within that context, it’s just the same thing whether it’s on the stage, album, or on the screen. If they take a role that makes them work, challenges them, makes them step out of their comfort zone and really make a character new and different, I think most people will think, “Wow, ok, they are serious about becoming an actor.” Now I don’t think it will change over night, but as we have seen with Will Smith (my prime example), look where he has gone. I never knew much of his music before I saw him on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I enjoyed the show. I thought he was funny. He continued making music and then appeared in films such as “Made in America”, “Six Degrees of Separation”, and “Independence Day”. Still loved him, but didn’t know how serious he was as an actor. And well, what did I know anyway being a teenager…I think it was “The Legend of Bagger Vance” that really started to show everyone he was serious. He took other comedic roles and films, but he was not afraid to get serious with “Ali”, “The Pursuit of Happyness”, and “I Am Legend”. His music career also seemed to fade out as he FOCUSED on the acting.
I am not saying every singer who wants to be an artist must or will follow this path to be successful, but it DOES show that what they need to be willing to do to be seen as an actor and not some wannabe, one hit wonder.
As far as your second question, I honestly don’t know. I think everyone is a bit critical. For me it’s usually the other way around. I am the first to admit my eyes roll so far back into my head when an accomplished actor promotes their new album and blah, blah, blah. I’m not talking about the ones you mentioned who do it for fun, but those that are paying their PR teams so much money to get their name out there in the music industry. I. Don’t. Buy it.
Wow…ok, so that was a mouthful. I hope my answer was satisfactory. 🙂
LB & CR,
I really like David Bowie and Mick Jagger as actors. David Bowie was really great in “The Prestige” & Mick Jagger in “The Bank Job.” Why do u think they haven’t appeared in more films?
Actually Bowie has done a lot more than I thought.
Didn’t Bowie do Labryinth?
Yes.
yes.
Unfortuantely my comment keeps getting blocked. Word press must have something against clips from that movie.
LOL
Everyone-
LB Said: “They were blessed with not only the talent to sing but had the ability to transition into the acting world and still give us high quality performances.”
The singers listed in your article was from a different era. They did not spend a lot of time in the tabloids to validate their acting, like some actors do today. Do u think the reason they were taken more seriously because they focused on their craft more than their celebrity?
IMO, yes. I think they were more interested in furthering their careers and developing their talents than being a “celebrity”. Ultimately they are famous, but I don’t think they were originally transitioning to acting for that reason.
And thank you for bringing up Cher! I thought she was fantastic in Moonstruck. I don’t know what helped her acting career, but I think most people were impressed by the Cher they saw on the screen.
I think people saw her acting capability in her TV variety show and this role allowed her to expand and challenge herself.
I think so too, plus the fact that back then news was more in demand than gossip. Today, it seems like people don’t have time or the interest for the news and unfortunately gossip has over taken.
CR and everyone,
I will be resting for a bit, but will be back around 5:00. 🙂 i will see you then.
Hi Everyone!
LB, I hope you are feeling better. 🙂 Awesome article. Very informative.
Elvis was a singer who transitioned into acting although I don’t think he was taken seriously as an actor, IMO. Why do you think that is? A lot of the songs from his movies are hits but not his acting.
Oh, how could anyone forget Elvis???
CR,
Hi! how are you? Elvis who? LOL I know he wasn’t Oscar worthy but he did try. I just think he had poor management.
I’m great.
I know don’t why, I just want to give him more credit than, I’m sure you are right he deserved.
Oddly I haven’t see a lot of his work but I think I always had the impression that his performances were kind of tongue-in-cheek. As though he was lending his celebrity to a the cause but don’t expect him to get lost in the character; like most of the artist’s on LB’s list.
Still referring to Elvis, he was kind of like quarter back Joe Namath, Evil Knivel, or Muhammad Ali. You were immediately happy these really famous men would show up but sometimes they completely warped the narrative out-of-wack because they would hurt your ability to suspend your belief. Obviously I’m talking mainly about TV.
I used to think the same thing about Madonna. But I think she was really trying to stretch herself with the movie she just directed.
I thought she was good in Evita.
I did too. She’s fearless. She seems to enter a lot of things on a whim then get extremely serious.
I loved Evita. The costumes were fantastic!! Great pick Paris.
This is my favorite Elvis movie.
Paris,
I actually agree with LB on this one. He was not taken seriously because he could not break out of musicals. I mean he was off to a strong start with Jailhouse but then got typecast. Also, his southern drawl limited his roles. I think he should have been in “Picnic” instead of William Holden. It won 2 Oscars. I think this would have really helped him get taken seriously.
ITA poor management was also a big factor.
LB,
Maybe you shouldn’t over extend yourself. I think more than enough toys were left in the playground; those who are able should pick up the slack. Look forward to speaking when you return.
Hi all!
Great article LB! I never realised that that there were so many singers who transitioned into actors. I tend to forget the actor’s background and put them into my own little category called “all rounders”, lol!
Hope you are feeling better soon LB! 🙂
Hi Ozzie and CR!
I have a question for everyone.
Some musicians have great charisma on stage but lack that charisma when they get in front of a camera. Why do you think that is? Same with actors who try to transition to singing. Some can’t pull it off and some can.
That’s a really hard question and to be honest it’s hard for me to imagine how an adult artist can master an art form well enough to merit national exposure then (in what appears to be a blink of an eye) show competence in another completely different art form. It will take me a while to adapt to your question.
I think it honestly comes down to a natural talent that is there from the get go or needs a little prodding. JMO.
ITA
Hi Ozzie.
Hi Ozzie, and thank you!
Pretty neat, huh!
Hi Paris, CR and LB! 🙂
Getting back to your question, I don’t know know on what page it was but LB and I were talking about Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman being cast to do Le Miserable.
Speaking of Russel Crowe, now that think about it, I can imagine him being musically effective because he has done so many musicals.
To answer your question I think it might be easier for Musicians who have stage presence and charisma to transition effectively into actors than the other way around.
I’ve seen many actors try to start musical carriers on little experience and not nearly do as well.
CR,
You’ve opened a new can of worms with actors who are also singers!! 🙂 I think what I said about the process singers becomes actors is the same the other way around. There are those that spread themselves too thin and it looks like a gimmick. Haven’t Jennifer Love Hewitt and Hayden Panitierre (?), started music careers too. Don’t even get me started on Jennifer Lopez. Will not go there. 🙂
HEY LB,
I will answer when I stop laughing.
LOL!! Jennifer Lopez suffers with gluttony. There was an epidemic in the 90’s where scandal media gluttons offered music, fashion and film contracts to celebrities at a discount rate.
That woman needs to pick ONE thing to do and stick with IT. I don’t care what she chooses, but JUST PICK ONE. I’m about to rant and I don’t want this to have a negative impact on the site so I’m walking away from the monitor…
Hi everyone!
Elvis was great and I liked his movies because I was a wee little think who got the Elvis fever from her grandmother. His roles were very tongue-in-cheek. It’s hard to say for sure what would have happened with is acting career if he stepped outside his comfort zone. Don’t forget too that fans may have booed any real serious work because they only saw him as the King of Rock and Roll. His celebrity persona greatly overshadowed the man he was.
I’m still out of it so bear with me. 🙂
LB!!!!!!!!!!
*hugs*
How are you?
I am good but still out of it. 🙂 I think my brain processor needs a reboot.
Feel free to take your time.
What the heck was that first sentence supposed to say???? Good grief!
One of the reasons I like this article is I wish more feature film musicals were made, of course you would need the type of director who could transform these events into plausible film experiences and I’m not sure many of those talents are out there.
You mean films like Chicago?
That was a great one and CAtherine Zeta Jones already had a large musical theater back ground, coupled with Queen Latifah’s success as a music artist/performer.
I would love to see JT do a musical.
Again it’s such a fine line between finding those performers who are great actors and singers.
And like CR was saying about the new Les Mis, I am very excited. Knowing the great cast can SING is HUUUUUGE in my book, so of course I am thrilled as can be.
I’m sorry. Chicago would be a massive exception. But honestly I would like to see those every year not every five years.
Paris,
Did you like Moulin Rouge?
LB,
Did you like Moulin Rouge.
Yes, and not necessarily because of the singing. I thought the acting, orchestrations, story, lyrics were all top notch. Very impressive.
I was disappointed with NINE, though. 😦
Why?
I just wasn’t into the story line. That’s about it.
I love Moulin Rouge but I haven’t seen Nine yet.
I did although the first time i saw it I walked out of the theater not even a quarter way through. I liked the storyline.
Paris, Ozzie, LB,
I gave a list of actors above who were also musicians. Other than Russell Crowe, what do you think they would need to take the Musical plunge?
Everyone,
Do you have any music artists that you would love to see make it to the big screen and be successful? Are there any currently breaking into film that you think really stand a chance if they focus on ACTING and not a whole plethora of other things to distract them?
LB,
Personally, I really don’t like to see musical artists acting. Actors really have be willing to morph into new characters and many musicians have fought too hard for their stage personas or their celebrity characters to throw that way for film. Your list proves there are those who achieved that, but they are few and far between.
A great example of this are so many rappers who may have had hard upbringings but are now because of their music careers they are millionaires. They no longer dodge bullets, or have to resist drug dealers, or being kidnapped into gangs, prostitution, etc. Unfortunately neither the content of their albums or their new screen personas change. Obviously this isn’t Will Smith or Queen Latifah.
That issue is more about being an artist rather than having the wear withal to perform in multiple art forms.
That my friend, is a whole other article! hahahahahaha!!!! 🙂
Sorry, you are absolutely right.
LB,
Great topic, this was fun.
But I have to go.
See you all later.
Goodbye CR,
I am going to go as well, but will be back to answer questions or respond to comments.
Have a good night. 🙂
Night all! 🙂
Wow! I missed a great discussion…. = (
LB great, great, article. Loved it!!
I hope your doing well. Big hug.