5 Musicians-Turned-Actors Who Prove Charli XCX in Narnia Isn't a Bad Idea
These five singers are proof of the fact that extraordinary talent can transcend the boundaries of a single profession.
A new adaptation of Clive Staples Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia is in development at Netflix, and Greta Gerwig is set to write and direct at least two films.
It was recently revealed that Charli XCX is being considered for the role of the White Witch in the upcoming movie. The singer has not yet signed a contract, but negotiations are underway and she is one of the leading candidates.
We recalled five examples that prove that musicians often not only cope with acting tasks with dignity, but also become the main stars of highly acclaimed films.
1. Dunkirk (2017) – Harry Styles
Harry Styles began his career as part of a group – the super popular boy band One Direction. In 2017, the musician released his first solo single and then – as an independent artist – won three Grammys.
Styles' acting portfolio is not very extensive yet: in 2021 he played a small role in the superhero blockbuster Eternals, and a year later – in the lead roles in the dramas Don't Worry, Darling and My Policeman.
The musician made his film debut thanks to Christopher Nolan and his war drama Dunkirk. Rumor has it that the director heard about Harry Styles from his daughter, but he still went through the casting process with other candidates.
As a result, he got the role of Alex – one of the British soldiers evacuated from the coast of the English Channel after the German attack.
2. A Star Is Born (2018) – Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga first appeared in the films Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For and Machete Kills, as well as in the series American Horror Story, but always remained in supporting roles.
The singer really revealed herself as an actress in a duet with Bradley Cooper in the movie A Star is Born. Gaga was nominated for two Oscars, one of them for Best Actress. However, she was awarded a "musical" statuette – for Best Song.
3. MaXXXine (2024) – Halsey
Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, better known by her stage name Halsey, recorded her debut EP in 2014. Since then, she has released four more full-length albums and received three Grammy nominations.
In 2018, she made a cameo appearance in the aforementioned film A Star Is Born, and three years later, she voiced one of the characters in the animated film Sing 2.
Halsey got a full-fledged role in the horror film MaXXXine, which concludes Ti West's X trilogy. The singer played the main character's friend Tabby Martin. The plot revolves around actress Maxine, a former adult film star who is about to conquer Hollywood.
4. The Crow ( 2024) – FKA Twigs
Tahliah Barnett, who goes by the stage name FKA Twigs, was nominated for a Grammy for the video for her song Cellophane. The singer's film career began thanks to the drama Honey Boy, written by Shia LaBeouf and based on his own childhood.
Like Halsey, FKA twigs' most notable role came last year, when she starred in the remake of 1994's The Crow.
This time, Eric Draven was played by Bill Skarsgård, and FKA Twigs got the role of his fiancée, whose murder the main character avenges.
5. Dancer in the Dark (2000) – Björk
The singer's debut album was released when she was 11 years old. After that, she participated in several bands, and already in the early 1990s, Björk began a solo and incredibly successful career.
Almost every new album by the Icelandic singer becomes a major musical event – critics even consider her one of the most important singers of her generation for her courage and constant desire to experiment.
Björk's main acting work is Dancer in the Dark – a scandalous film by Lars von Trier, which was awarded the main prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. Björk herself received the award for Best Actress.
