When Actors Become Musicians: The Surprising World of Celebrity Crossovers

The Unlikely Musicians of Hollywood

While it is very common to see successful musicians, such as Lady Gaga, David Bowie, or Will Smith, find success in the world of acting, the opposite is not always the case. Despite this, there are still many actors who have tried their hand at being musicians and some of them have been quite prolific and successful at it. There are plenty of movies and television stars who audiences will be quite surprised to learn have released albums, are members of bands, and take part in concert tours all over the world.

Michael Cera plays Ramona a song in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

The merging of the worlds of acting and music can often be very complimentary to each other and that’s why actors like Michael Cera have utilized their talent for music in their work such as in Juno or Scott Pilgram vs. the World. Some take advantage of the benefits of their acting fame to make use of their connections in the world of music, like Johnny Depp who has a Hollywood supergroup made up of famous musicians. Or some see their music as a fun side-project, and something to enjoy on a smaller scale than the widespread success they have found in the world of acting.

Johnny Depp with his Guitar at a concert

Michael Cera: A Multifaceted Talent

As far back as his earliest roles, Michael Cera gave hints at his musical talent, such as the duet of The Moldy Peaches song “Anyone Else But You” in Juno. However, Cera’s indie music credibility extended even further as he contributed backup vocals and mandolin to the Weezer song “Hang On”, toured with the rock band Mister Heavenly, and played bass and sang in the movies Scott Pilgram vs. the World and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Cera also released a full-length studio album in 2014 called True That which features 19 original songs and several covers.

Michael Cera and Elliot Page perform a duet at the end of Juno

Jennette McCurdy: A Country Pop Journey

Nickelodeon child star turned best-selling author Jennette McCurdy also had a short-lived career as a country pop singer. McCurdy released a full-length self-titled album in 2012 but it failed to chart, and she soon abandoned this side of her career. In McCurdy’s heartfelt memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, which details her difficult upbringing and complex relationship with her mother, McCurdy stated she was pressured into pursuing a music career by her mother and in a 2022 interview with The Guardian described her music career as “a much-regretted country music blip.”

A composite image of Jennette McCurdy and her book cover