Music

10 of the best musicians-turned-actors

by Anne T. Donahue

Today Mister Heavenly‘s debut album was released, and because the first two things you associate with them are Michael Cera and Michael Cera, we’ve rounded up a list of our favourite musicians-turned-actors to make the band’s premiere that much more memorable. (That, and we’ve already listed the best/worst actors-turned-musicians and needed to keep things interesting.)

10. Mos Def

It takes a big man to upstage Bruce Willis. And an even bigger man to overshadow the entire Dexter season six trailer with only a dramatic look.

Exhibit B:

9. Courtney Love

Because once upon a time our interest her personal life came after our interest in her music and film roles.

8. Justin Timberlake

Ten years ago, he learned choreography and coordinated denim with Britney. Today he overshadows the SNL cast and campaigns for Oscars. Haters? Cry us a river.

7. Ice Cube

Things we learned from Ice Cube’s raps: he’s not fucking around. Things we learned from his career in movies: no, but really, he’s not fucking around.

6. Madonna

If she’d just stopped her career at Evita, we’d never have to joke about Swept Away again. (That, and A League of Their Own was arguably better than the last three Madonna albums)

5. Common

If a rapper chooses only a few great roles, and you can’t find them on YouTube, do they exist? (Yes. But unfortunately, all we can give you is a featurette explaining why rappers were cast in American Gangster.)

4. David Bowie

What matters isn’t that Labyrinth is amazing (because it is), but that 20 years after you first saw it, you still try to wear your pants just like the Goblin King.

3. Cher

Say what you will about her retirement tour, her hair or her fashion – Cher has an Academy Award, and therefore, is better than us.

2. Will Smith

First he was The Fresh Prince. Then he was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Then he killed aliens, got on the A-list, and whipped his proverbial hair.

1. Mark Wahlberg

Sure, you may recognize titles like The Fighter, The Departed or Boogie Nights, but these feats can’t truly be appreciated without paying homage to his origins:

Such a good vibration.