The 10 best pop stars turned film stars – in pictures

1 Will Smith The undisputed king of acting singers, and he can’t even sing. He has played superheroes. He has played Muhammad Ali . He has played a futuristic cowboy who hates giant metal spiders. There’s nothing he can’t do. Pictured: Ali (2001) Photograph: PR 2 Jennifer Hudson Nobody could have guessed that an American Idol reject would win an Oscar for her raw performance in Dreamgirls . Or, admittedly, follow it up with a disappointing bitpart in the Sex and the City film. Pictured: Dreamgirls (2006) Photograph: David James 3 Mark Wahlberg He may have his numerous detractors but, given the right director, Wahlberg can be genuinely riveting to watch . Yes, he made The Happening – but, seriously, you try acting opposite wind. Pictured: The Fighter (2010) Photograph: Jojo Whilden 4 Frank Sinatra When he put the right amount of effort in, Sinatra could be a compelling screen presence . He even won an Oscar for From Here to Eternity. He also made Cannonball Run II, but shush. Pictured: From Here to Eternity (1953) Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Feature 5 Cher For someone with such an immobile face, Cher has enormous range. She won an Oscar for Moonstruck . She was heartbreaking in Mask. She turned up for work on Burlesque. That’s dedication. Pictured: Mask (1985) Photograph: Cine Text/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar 6 Bette Midler She has spent the last decade and a half playing identically brassy bitparts in terrible films, but Midler had real power once . Admittedly only in other terrible films, but beggars can’t be choosers. Pictured: The Rose (1979) Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex Features 7 Eminem To be fair, he has only really played himself – albeit a mumbling, monotone version of himself – in 8 Mile. But playing yourself can be harder than it looks. Exhibit A: Spice World: The Movie. Pictured: 8 Mile (2002) Photograph: Universal/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar 8 Mariah Carey Naturalistic and unshowy, Mariah Carey was a genuine revelation in Precious . Not that anyone has got more than three minutes into Precious without wanting to slash their wrists, obviously. Pictured: Precious (2009) Photograph: Lionsgate/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar 9 Sting Calling Sting a more tolerable actor than singer sounds like a backhanded compliment. That’s because it is. Watch Brimstone & Treacle and you can almost forgive him for Shape of my Heart. Almost. Pictured: Brimstone & Treacle (1982) Photograph: Moviestore collection Ltd / Alam/Alamy 10 Justin Timberlake Timberlake’s determination to be an actor rather than a singer hasn’t paid off yet, but he’s sticking with it . Hopefully he will come good soon, or God help us all. Pictured: The Social Network (2010) Photograph: Col Pics/Everett/Rex Features