Seeing pop stars star in films is not a surprise anymore. Eminem's performance in ‘8 Mile’ and Dolly Parton's in ‘9 to 5’ are probably some of the most recognisable performances. Still, in my generation, Disney Channel was the OG of recruiting and shaping pop stars for their films. When I watched Camp Rock for the first time and saw both Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers star in the film, I thought I was dreaming. Ever since the film's release, their fame has skyrocketed, and they have gone on to be some of the most famous pop stars in the industry.
One of my personal favourites is Hilary Duff, who played roles such as Lizzie McGuire or Sam Montgomery in A Cinderella Story with Chad Michael Murray. But we can’t forget Coco Jones starring in 'Let It Shine' or Selena Gomez in 'Princess Protection'. Arguably, Miley Cyrus is the most famous pop star to play a leading role in a Disney film. Since becoming Hannah Montana, the singer has grown a great following, which led her to star in ‘The Last Song’ alongside Liam Hemsworth and ‘LOL’, a remake of the iconic French rom-com.
‘Wicked’ has opened the debate again about whether pop stars should star in films or not
Over the years, several pop stars have had leading roles in many films. Harry Styles starred in 'Dunkirk' or, most recently, in 'Don’t Worry Darling', receiving mixed reviews about his performance. On the other hand, there are other stars like Lady Gaga, whose performance in ‘A Star Is Born’ is probably one of the best performances in the 2010s. Christina Aguilera starring in ‘Burlesque’ and Beyoncé in ‘Dreamgirls’ are more examples of great acting.
These films are all great, but nobody does it like Cher. Her role in 'Moonstruck' captivated the hearts of many, mine included. She brought a mixture of romanticism and recklessness that made this role unforgettable, even after 30 years of its release.
‘Wicked’ has opened the debate again about whether pop stars should star in films or not, and it’s causing agitated discussions on social media. But the question still remains: Should they?