Awkward Times In Pop Culture When Some Actors Tried To Be Musicians And Vice Versa

Have you ever watched a musician act in a film and thought to yourself, "They should definitely just stick to writing and singing songs" because of how terrible they were on-screen?

Well, not necessarily terrible, but many people find it quite cringe-worthy to see a well-known artist attempt an acting career after spending years in the mainstream as a full-fledged musician or artist.

Sure, there are many talented people in Hollywood who are not limited to a single craft; a lot of our favorite celebrities are triple threats: they can sing, act, and dance, and they do it effortlessly. It's also not wrong for celebrities to explore other crafts that differ from what we usually know them for, but let's face it—it can sometimes be a bad idea for them to experiment, too.

Okay, it’s not necessarily fair to label it a bad idea, but some artists should really just stick to what they excel at and leave other talents in different areas to those who are genuinely skilled in them (no offense).

But lo and behold, there have actually been many instances in pop culture where some actors tried to pursue a music career, and conversely, musicians attempted to pursue an acting career—and it's safe to say it kind of flopped in the long run, prompting them to return to what they do best, a wise move to say the least.

Here are six musicians who tried to be actors and six actors who tried to be musicians:

1. Robert Downey Jr. – Music

Before he landed his most iconic role as Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. actually tried to pursue a music career and even released an album called "The Futurist."

“Downey displays neither a supple voice nor the ability to at least keep the beat,” says Entertainment Weekly.

Good thing his stint with Marvel erased that from people's memories, but here we are reminding you of it once again!

Spotify

2. Mick Jagger – Acting

Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones has been featured in some movies as he tried his luck with an acting career. However, his particular performance in "Ned Kelly" was described by the director as "as good as having a stillborn child."

Alamy

3. Ryan Gosling – Music

The Ken Adams of the roaring 20s, Ryan Gosling actually has a background in music—he has played the keys and guitar and even sang with the goth rock band called "Dead Man's Bones." Honestly speaking, he wasn't all that bad, but his acting career is what truly propelled his fame to new heights.

Wikimedia

4. Rihanna – Acting

Rihanna, the icon that she is, also tried her luck with acting. Her most significant role was in "Battleship," but many people did not appreciate her performance as much as they loved her music.

Alamy

5. Jeremy Renner – Music

Yes, Jeremy Renner actually released an album called "Medicine" in the midst of—wait for it—the Coronavirus pandemic. As it turns out, it wasn't really the kind of medicine we needed at that time.

GQ

6. Britney Spears – Acting

Britney has been featured in many movies, but things took a downward turn when she signed on for "Crossroads," especially when she was at the peak of her career back then. It flopped at the box office, and many people questioned the director's choice to cast her.

She did appear in one episode of Glee, though, and it was an iconic one, so it kind of makes up for everything.

Alamy

7. Lindsay Lohan – Music

The 2000s "It" girl Lindsay Lohan was a Disney star, so she was bound to have a singing career. Her album "Speak" was a success in 2004, but her second one didn't gain much attention, leading her to say goodbye to music.

Wikimedia

8. Bruce Willis – Music

Bruce Willis was a performer in the 1980s, playing a character named "Bruno." His album, "The Return of Bruno," released in 1987, didn't receive much support, and many people said Bruno shouldn't have returned at all.

Alamy

9. Adam Levine – Acting

Many Maroon 5 fans were thrilled when Adam Levine was cast in "Begin Again," but it only led to disappointment, prompting Levine to decide not to pursue acting again.

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10. Scarlett Johansson – Music

Yes, ScarJo has always been a goddess—but honestly speaking, her album "Anywhere I Lay My Head" in 2008 wasn't nearly as marvelous as her acting credits. People went as far as calling her a karaoke enthusiast.

Spotify

11. Madonna – Acting

Everybody loves some good Madonna, but apparently not the movie critics. It seems she's only fit for films when her music is involved, unfortunately!

Olixe

12. 50 Cent – Acting

50 Cent tried his luck with acting when he debuted in "Get Rich Or Die Tryin," which is his own biopic. However, he didn't have much luck at all nor was he able to capture a lot of cents—even Samuel L. Jackson turned down a role in the movie because he believed the singer was inexperienced.

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Well, it seems like not everyone can be a Zendaya or a Justin Timberlake, after all. These artists may have been phenomenal as actors or musicians, but they are also a living testament that sometimes, it's better to just be a master of one.

Do you know any other celebrities who tried to experiment with their careers? Comment down your thoughts, or share this article with all your family and friends to see!