Music
Charli XCX Says She Wants to “Quit Music” for New Career Endeavor
Charli XCX is everywhere, she’s so cinema.
The “Party 4 U” singer revealed she’s interested in turning her focus to acting following a recent string of film projects, including her recent mocumentary The Moment and her soundtrack album for Wuthering Heights.
After Quenlin Blackwell asked Charli if she wanted to “act more” during a recent episode of the Feeding Starving Celebrities series, the 33-year-old replied, “Yes, are you kidding? I want to quit music, babe, and act.”
And when Quenlin, 25, highlighted the success of the Grammy winner’s 2024 album Brat, she joked, “What else is there to do?”
In fact, Charli—who wed The 1975 drummer George Daniel in July—noted that she shared an idea for a horror film on TikTok in May, expanding upon the premise which she described as an “it-girl Final Destination.”
“We would be being killed by machinery or something like that,” she explained. “And I feel like if it was an it-girl thing, all the deaths would be on the runway. I would probably die at some kind of a rave. You know what I mean?”
Charli has already begun to make her mark in the movie business, having released The Moment—featuring cameos from the likes of Kylie Jenner and Julia Fox—in January. And after creating an album inspired by Emerald Fennell’s period drama starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, she’s also set to team up with Jack Antonoff to contribute original songs to the upcoming psychological horror Mother Mary starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel.
Stewart Cook/CBS
“Film is where my creative brain seems to be gravitating,” Charli wrote in a post on her Substack in November. “I’m enjoying acting, I’m enjoying writing, I’m enjoying watching and I’m above all enjoying discovering a new craft.”
But while she described her recent foray into filmmaking as “really enriching and instinctual,” she added, “Music is a limb I will probably never fully be able to cut from my body despite trying quite hard to do so at points.”
Thankfully for Charli, she has plenty of singers-turned-actors to look to for inspiration. For more stars who have taken their talents to the screen, keep reading…
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Music Eminem
Though the rapper’s filmography isn’t very long, it does include starring in the award-winning drama, 8 Mile.
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Music Rihanna
The singer has put in “Work” in the recording studio and on camera! The Barbadian beauty had a major role in Battleship and is part of the cast of Ocean’s Eight.
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Music Janelle Monae
The “Tightrope” singer made a name for herself, being featured in two Oscar nominated films in 2017: Moonlight and Hidden Figures.
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Music Will Smith
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air got his start in the music industry, rapping with his childhood friend and producer DJ Jazzy Jeff.
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Music Donnie Wahlberg
The News Kids on the Block singer hasn’t left his boyband roots behind, but has added actor to his resume, appearing in shows like Blue Bloods.
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Music Jennifer Hudson
The vocal powerhouse got her start on American Idol, but became a household name when her acting career took off with Dream Girls.
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Music Mark Wahlberg
Looks like it runs in the family! Formerly known as Marky Mark, the rapper turned actor is famous for his work on screen, ranging from action films to comedies like Ted.
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Music Queen Latifah
Beginning as a rapper, the star has shown she can do pretty much anything, even starring in the Oscar-winning Chicago.
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Music Justin Timberlake
Is there anything he can’t do? The singer/designer/activist/actor is a true renaissance man. Don’t believe us? Watch The Social Network and then we’ll talk.
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Music
Beyoncé
Before Queen Bey starred in Dream Girls, she was Foxy Cleopatra opposite Mike Meyers in Austin Powers in Gold Member.
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Music Lady Gaga
Mother Monster fit right in on the set of American Horror Story: Hotel, which brings the horror series to Los Angeles, Calif., before taking on A Star Is Born.
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Music
Bow Wow
When the young rapper isn’t in the studio, he’s on the screen! The actor starred in Lottery Ticket in 2010, and has been a regular on CSI: Cyber since 2015.
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Music John Legend
“Everybody Knows” the singer for his hit songs, but he’s also quite the actor, even appearing alongside Ryan Gosling in La La Land.
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Music Awkwafina
The rapper made the switch to television providing commentary on Girl Code – now she’s a part of the films Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s Eight.
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Music Ice Cube
“Straight Outta Compton” and onto the silver screen! The MC has had hit after hit – from “It Was a Good Day” to Are We There Yet?
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Music Cher
“I Got You Babe”…and also an Academy Award and a few Golden Globes. The superstar is known not only for her music, but for her acting in films like Moonstruck and Burlesque.
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Music
Common
The hip-hop artist and Kanye West‘s collaborator does more than just music – he’s also an actor, appearing in films like Selma and John Wick: Chapter 2.
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Music Ludacris
The rapper has always been a “Money Maker”; besides being a hip-hop legend, Luda stars in the Fast and Furious franchise.
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Music Madonna
The “Like A Virgin” singer is no virgin to the big screen, appearing in films like Evita and A League Of Their Own.
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Music LL Cool J
In addition to being one of the first mainstream hip-hop acts, the legendary rapper has starred in a number of films, and is a part of NCIS: LA.
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