5 Celebs Who Proved They Can Act & 5 Who Should Stick to Their Job

5 Stars Who Proved They Can Act & 5 Who Should Stick To Their Day Job

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the best and worst performances delivered by celebrities who are not primarily known for their acting.

#5: Should Stick To Their Day Job: David Beckham

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

Guy Ritchies 2017 fantasy epic King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is packed with questionable choices, but none quite as baffling as David Beckhams brief but painfully cringe cameo. Playing a soldier named Trigger, Beckham appears in a pivotal scene to bark out directions at Arthur as he attempts to pull the Excalibur from the stone. Between the heavy-handed Cockney accent and the wooden line delivery, the whole thing feels wildly out of place. We all know Beckham for his magnetic presence on the football pitch, but that signature charm is nowhere to be found here. Instead, his appearance yanks viewers right out of the story and becomes the punchline of an already disastrous film. We certainly hope its his last foray into acting.

#5: Proved They Can Act: Dolly Parton

9 to 5 (1980)

Dolly Parton was already a huge country star when she was tapped to play one of the three leads in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5. Her performance in the film only made her even more of a cultural icon. As Doralee Rhodes, the sharp, sassy and often underestimated secretary, Parton brought the level of skill you would expect from a seasoned actor, even though it was her film debut! She was hilarious when the script called for it, exuded confidence throughout, and infused the role with genuine warmth. Acting alongside veterans like Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, she couldve easily been overshadowed, but Parton managed to match them with surprising ease. Clearly, acting comes just as effortlessly to her as songwriting.

#4: Should Stick To Their Day Job: Madonna

Swept Away (2002)

Once again, we have Guy Ritchie casting a famous face from his inner circle, only for it to backfire. This time around, that famous face was his then-wife, Madonna. In this ill-fated remake of the 1974 film of the same name, Madonna plays Amber Leighton, a rich, entitled socialite who gets stranded on a deserted island. Unfortunately, the real wreck wasnt the boat, it was the movie itself. Madonnas performance was especially criticized for being stiff and lacking any emotional depth. Even worse, there was absolutely no chemistry between her and her co-star, Adriano Giannini. Her efforts earned her a well-deserved Razzie for Worst Actress, proving once and for all that while she is a music powerhouse, acting just isnt her strong suit.

#4: Proved They Can Act: Mariah Carey

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (2009)

If you didnt already know Mariah Carey was in the 2009 film Precious, you might do a double take when she appears on screen. The legendary singer totally disappears into the role of Anna Weiss, a tired, no-nonsense social worker who helps the films troubled protagonist. Stripped of all her glam, Carey delivers an understated and emotionally grounded performance that was a far cry from her previous misfire in 2001s Glitter. She might not have been the first choice for the role, as director Lee Daniels initially considered Jane Fonda and Helen Mirren, but she ultimately proved to be the right choice. It was a complete redemption for the music star and earned her the Breakthrough Actress Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

#3: Should Stick To Their Day Job: Kim Kardashian

Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)

Tyler Perrys movies arent exactly where you go for powerhouse acting performances. But even he hit a new low when he cast Kim Kardashian in his 2013 film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. Kardashian was clearly out of her depth and as a result, she seemed to slip right back into familiar territory, delivering her lines with the same cadence as her reality TV confessionals. Although her character Ava was a minor sidekick with no real arc, it still required some level of believability, which Kardashian was simply unable to muster. After missing out on a well-deserved Razzie for her supporting role in Disaster Movie, Kardashian finally took home the notorious award for her performance in Temptation.

#3: Proved They Can Act: Kevin Garnett

Uncut Gems (2019)

Not many athletes have knocked it out of the park when it comes to acting performances, so when Kevin Garnett signed on to star in Uncut Gems, the bar wasnt exactly high. But with his turn as a fictionalized version of himself, Garnett raised that bar even higher than his towering 6-foot-11 frame. Set in 2012, the film revolves around an impulsive New York City jeweler who acquires an Ethiopian gem and tries to sell it off to a basketball player. Enter Kevin Garnett. This role wasnt just a cameo, Garnett appeared in multiple scenes, and in each one, he shone so effortlessly, youd never guess it was his first ever acting gig. His skill on the court was already well-established, but who knew he had such talent on screen?

#2: Should Stick To Their Day Job: Shaquille O'Neal

Kazaam (1996)

Speaking of athletes who didnt knock it out of the park in movies, we have Shaquille ONeal in Kazaam. The NBA champion plays a 5,000-year old genie who is released from a magic boombox, and the result is anything but magical. At least, with some other bad movie performances, you can still find one redeeming moment, but ONeals turn as the rapping, rhyming genie was a full-on disaster, from start to finish. His imposing presence may have suited the characters look, but ONeal lacked the comedic timing or charisma needed to make it convincing. As fun as it is to see athletes try their hand at acting, sometimes its best to keep their talents on the court.

#2: Proved They Can Act: Eminem

8 Mile (2002)

The premise of 8 Mile, which follows Jimmy Smith Jr., aka B-Rabbit, a struggling rapper trying to rise above his tough Detroit upbringing, might sound a lot like Eminems own story. But that doesnt mean the rapper just plays himself on screen. Far from it. Eminem delivered a performance that surprised audiences with its vulnerability and emotional depth. Yes, this was his first time in a movie, but he avoided the usual pitfall of overacting that youd find in many celebrity acting debuts. Add to that the electric rap battle scenes and the wealth of songs he helped create for the soundtrack and you have one of the most impressive showings by a non-actor in modern film history.

#1: Should Stick To Their Day Job: Paris Hilton

The Hottie and the Nottie (2008)

Throughout the 2000s, Paris Hilton cultivated the image of a stereotypical dumb blonde, a persona that seemed to have been entirely intentional. It was that image that the 2008 film The Hottie and the Nottie cashed in on. Hilton, of course, played the Hottie, an impossibly attractive girl who refuses to date anyone until her not-so-gorgeous best friend can find a date too. Even while essentially playing herself, Hilton manages to give a performance with all the range of a cardboard cutout. Her delivery is wooden, her expressions are limited to a narrow set of blank stares and any attempt at humor falls completely flat. We would say she should stick to her day job, but we dont even know what that is. Shes just that mysterious.

#1: Proved They Can Act: Lady Gaga

A Star Is Born (2018)

Lady Gaga burst onto the scene in the late 2000s with a style that was anything but subtle. Her theatrical music and outlandish, sometimes provocative, fashion sense made sure she was impossible to ignore. But in 2018s A Star Is Born, she set aside all of that spectacle for something far more stripped-down. Playing Ally, a struggling singer-songwriter who rises to fame while in a complicated relationship with a fading rock star, Gaga was a revelation. She starred opposite Bradley Cooper, who at that point had many years of acting experience. Still, it felt like her acting resume was just as stacked. Gagas work earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, which only confirmed that she is indeed a triple threat.

Which celebrities would you like to see try their hand at acting? And which do you think should stay far away from a film set? Let us know in the comments below.