10 A-list actors you forgot had music careers-Laura Harman-Entertainment – Metro

We can’t believe some of these actors started as musicians!

We didn’t realise how many actors began their careers as singers!

We all know that the stars can be known as a double or triple threat, meaning they can act, sing, and sometimes even dance – and actors can be known to have great pipes. 

Hugh Jackman is an incredibly talented singer and showed off his skills in The Greatest Showman, similarly, Emmy Rossum wowed in The Phantom of the Opera, yet is still known primarily as an actress.

There are also some actors like Harry Styles or Jared Leto who have established music careers before they dip their toe into acting, showing that it is possible to be skilled at both entertainment roles.

And then there are other A-listers who we know and love so well, but completely forgot that they ever started their careers as musicians!

From Minnie Driver to Keanu Reeves, here are some celebs who had full-blown singing careers before they stepped onto the screen – and you probably had no idea they could even hold a tune!

Scarlett Johannsson was a singer in the noughties (Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Scarlett Johansson 

Scarlett Johansson had a singing career in the noughties and released two albums. Her first debut studio album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, was released in May 2008.

Her second album, Break Up, was released in September 2009. Soon after this, the star hung up her microphone as her acting career took off and she became the performer we know and love today.

Billie Piper

Billie Piper was a singer in the 90s (Picture: Piers Allardyce/REX/Shutterstock)

Billie Piper was a 90s pop star and released her debut album, Honey to the B  in October 1998. Her second album, Walk of Life was released in October 2000.

Her first album was a huge success but her second album was met with less critical acclaim and Billie herself called it a ‘commercial bomb’.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis photographed singing in 2002 (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

Bruce Willis had a music career in the 80s and his first album, The Return of Bruno, was released by Motown Records in January 1987.

He went on to release two other albums including a 1989 album If It Don’t Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger and the 2001 album, Classic Bruce Willis: The Universal Masters Collection.

Zoe Kravitz

Zoe singing in 2016 (Picture: Amy Harris/REX/Shutterstock)

Zoe is one half of the duo band, Lolawolf, which consists of just Zoe and drummer and producer Jimmy Giannopoulos.

The pair released an album, Calm Down in October 2014 and another album six years later, Tenderness in July 2020. 

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves performed with his band Dogstar at the Glastonbury Festival (Picture: Rune Hellestad/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Keanu was a member of the band Dogstar where he played bass and vocals. The band’s first album Our Little Visionary was released in 1996.

Another album, Happy Ending was released in 2000 and then the band took a break in 2002.

Ending the hiatus after 21 years, Dogstar returned with a new album in 2023, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.

Steven Seagal

Steven Seagal performed on stage at Clapham Grand in 2014 (Picture: Brigitte Engl/Redferns via Getty Images)

Steven Seagal had a successful music career in the noughties with two albums, Songs from the Crystal Cave released in 2004, and Mojo Priest released in 2006.

The singer is multitalented and credited for lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar on these albums. 

Brie Larson

Brie pictured singing at a Macy’s in the US (Picture: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic)

In 2005, Brie released the album named Finally Out of P.E. This was the actor’s only album and was released when she was just 16. 

The lyrics of her songs focused on the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. The album was not a success, selling just 4,000 copies in the US.

Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano also had a pop career

Alyssa Milano had a hugely successful pop career in the 80s and 90s. The singer had four albums: Look in My Heart (1989), Alyssa (1989), Locked Inside a Dream (1991), and Do You See Me? (1992). 

Alyssa worked on Who’s the Boss while releasing albums but later into the 90s her music career took a backseat as acting became her focus and she appeared in beloved TV shows such as Melrose Place and Charmed.

Minnie Driver

Minnie performing in 2005 (Picture: Jim Smeal/BEI/REX/Shutterstock)

Minnie Driver had three albums released in the noughties and again in 2014. Her albums were: Everything I’ve Got in My Pocket which was released in 2004, Seastories in 2007, and Ask Me to Dance in 2014.

Her debut album was the most successful, with the album reaching number 43 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart. The second and third were met with less critical acclaim.

Russell Crowe

Russell with Indoor Garden Party in Islington (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

Russell Crowe was in 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, an Australian rock group, which formed in 1992.

Russell was on lead vocals for the albums: Gaslight (1998), Bastard Life or Clarity (2001), and Other Ways of Speaking (2003). 

He has also been part of the band Indoor Garden Party since 2017.

The actor was torn apart for his appearance in Les Miserables, as many claimed that he was unable to sing, which makes his past as a professional singer all the more surprising!

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