Top 10 Actors You Didn't Know Released Music

Top 10 Actors You Didn't Know Released Music

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Actors You Didn’t Know Released Music.

For this list, we’ll be looking at Hollywood celebrities who’ve also tried their hand at a musical career.

Which actors were you surprised to learn have musical aspirations? Let us know in the comments.

#10: Lucy Hale

Music was actually this television actress’s first love. In 2003, a young Lucy Hale was on a season of “American Juniors,” a singing competition show for kids. She made it to the top five and actually joined a group of contestants in releasing a studio album as a group. After moving to Los Angeles in hopes of getting a record deal, Hale decided to pursue acting instead. She made a name for herself on the CW series “Pretty Little Liars,” but did not forget her musical roots. In 2014, she released a country pop album called “Road Between.” Her sound is similar to Faith Hill or Shania Twain, and the album was mostly positively received.

#9: Emmy Rossum

After her starring role in the movie adaptation of “The Phantom of the Opera,” Emmy Rossum embarked on her own music career. She chose to explore making pop music, but didn’t release an album until three years later. The record was called “Inside Out” and was released in October 2007. The dream pop on “Inside Out” was successful on the New Age charts, and Rossum wrote all but one song on the album. She followed that up with an EP of Christmas songs that same year and a 2013 covers album called “Sentimental Journey.” While Rossum may be most recognizable as an actress, her delicate soprano is not easy to forget.

#8: Ansel Elgort

With a background in ballet and performing arts, is it really surprising Ansel Elgort would be interested in music as well? The actor started gaining traction in Hollywood after his role in the 2014 film “The Fault in Our Stars,” but Elgort began producing music around the same time. Under the name Ansolo, he made a SoundCloud account and started DJing. He then wrote and recorded several electronic dance songs before signing a deal with Island/Universal Records in 2015. Since then, Elgort has released six singles and was featured on a Logic song on the rapper’s third studio album.

#7: Jeremy Renner

Although most well-known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jeremy Renner actually lists music as his first passion. He played drums in his high school band and began writing his own songs early in his career. Also a guitarist and keyboardist, Renner has made music as a solo act and as part of the band Sons of Ben. The actor released his first EP, called “The Medicine” in March 2020, and dropped another project later that same year. He has established a style with a gravelly tone and country-rock production, which can be recognized on many of his tracks.

#6: Tom Hardy

Real fans know him as Tommy No 1. The English actor’s short-lived music career was almost lost to history until 2018. His friend, hip hop producer Edward Tracy, uploaded the nearly 20-year-old mixtape they made together to Bandcamp. The mix, called “Falling On Your Arse in 1999,” features lyrics written by Hardy and production by Tracy under the pseudonym Eddie Too Tall. The tape is filled with jumpy and creative samples from music and films alongside Hardy’s rapping. Before the project resurfaced, Hardy admitted to the BBC that he started rapping at around 14 years old, but said he wasn’t very good. Thanks to Eddie Too Tall’s upload, fans can judge the actor’s musical talents for themselves.

#5: Ryan Gosling

Before he was nominated for an Oscar for singing and dancing in the movie musical “La La Land,” Ryan Gosling was part of a rock band. The Canadian actor formed Dead Man’s Bones with his friend Zach Shields. Their self-titled debut album was conceived as a monster-themed musical, and it leans into that eccentricity. Released in 2009 and recorded with a full children’s choir, “Dead Man’s Bones” is a bit of a spooky listen. Gosling plays piano, guitar, bass guitar, and cello on the record, as well as contributing vocals. The band never recorded another album, but Gosling brushed up on his piano chops nearly a decade later for “La La Land.”

#4: Michael Cera

After gaining critical acclaim and a strong following for performances in films like “Superbad” and “Juno”, Michael Cera revealed his musical talents. The actor contributed to the soundtracks of his films “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” He also played mandolin on a 2010 Weezer song and began touring with the band Mister Heavenly as a bass player. In 2014, Cera dropped an indie-folk album called “True That.” At 18 tracks, critics thought the project was a bit long, but still a compelling and sweet record. He followed it up by collaborating with Sharon Van Etten on the song “Best I Can” in 2017. If you’re looking for a lo-fi listen, Cera’s music might hit the spot.

#3: Naomi Campbell

A career in music isn’t for everyone. In 1994, Naomi Campbell was one of the most influential supermodels in the world. The English model and actress wanted to diversify her portfolio. That year, she would release a novel as well as her album, “Baby Woman.” The pop and R&B record was panned by critics and suffered commercially, reportedly selling only 175 copies in the first two weeks of its release. Although it was a failure in the United Kingdom, the album did sell over one million copies worldwide because of its success in Japan. Campbell had much more success as a model and actress in music videos than in her debut recording endeavor.

#2: Robert Downey Jr.

Hawkeye isn’t the only Avenger making music. Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., wrote and recorded an album back in 2004. The jazz and folk project was called “The Futurist,” and featured the actor playing piano, organ, and percussion on various tracks. Of the ten songs, Downey Jr. wrote eight; the other two are covers. The second track, “Broken,” is played over the end credits of the Shane Black film “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” which Downey Jr. starred in. Although it was fairly well-received, Downey Jr. only made the one album. He chose instead to focus on his acting career, which would take off to new heights just a few years later.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Leighton Meester
She Followed Her Feature on Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Go Bad” with an Album 5 Years Later

Hugh Laurie
The British Thespian Is Also a Jazz Instrumentalist

Toni Collette
She Released an Album as the Lead Singer of Toni Collette & the Finish

Priyanka Chopra
The Actress Has Recorded Music for Bollywood Films & Had a Short-Lived Pop Career

Joe Pesci
He’s Released Three Studio Albums, Including One Based on His Character in “My Cousin Vinny”

#1: Brie Larson

Captain Marvel can also sing. When she was 16 years old, Larson released a pop-punk album called “Finally Out of P.E.” At the time, Larson had been in small roles on television and in movies, but she began pursuing music after an executive encouraged her to write her own songs. She toured with Jesse McCartney during his Beautiful Soul tour as an opening act. The album only sold 3,500 copies, and Larson chose to focus on her acting career instead of recording more music. However, Larson’s singing talent can be heard on the “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” soundtrack. She’s also posted a few singing videos to her YouTube channel.