This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Jason Tsoi. Find him on Instagram at @jason.tsoi. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
In Hollywood, an actor’s main responsibility is to bring characters to life and immerse audiences into a story. But beyond acting, some actors possess another talent — the ability to sing. While some actors pursue singing as a separate career, others bring their singing skills onto Broadway or the big screen. Here is a list of actors who can surprisingly sing.
Actors Who Are Singer-Songwriters
While actors are typically found on film sets, some are also seen in the recording studio as well. Best known for his role as Steve Harrington in “Stranger Things,” Joe Keery is also recognized as a rising indie musician. Keery, who goes by the stage name, Djo, made his mark in the music industry in 2019 when he released his first lead single, “Roddy.” In the same year, Djo dropped his debut album, “Twenty Twenty.” Since then, Djo released his second studio album, “Decide” in 2022, featuring his hit song, “End of Beginning.” The song took TikTok by storm, taking the No. 1 spot on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 in early March. Many TikTokers used the song to show memorable places in their city or town, as well as special moments of their lives. And last month, Djo posted on Instagram, confirming his third album is in the works.
Known for his role as Clay Jensen in the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why,” Dylan Minnette is also the lead singer of Wallows — an indie band. Formed in 2011, Minnette is joined by Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston. Before settling on Wallows, the trio underwent several name changes, including The Feaver and The Narwhals. In 2017, the trio made their debut, releasing their first single, “Pleaser.” Two years later, Wallows dropped their first album, “Nothing Happens,” which is notable for their song, “Are You Bored Yet? (feat. Clairo).” As of today, the trio recently dropped their third studio album, “Model” and is on a world tour.
Actors In Broadway Musicals
Besides acting in front of a camera, many actors have brought their skills on the Broadway stage. Recognized for his roles as Charlie Spring in “Heartstopper” and Teen in “Agatha All Along,” Joe Locke is a recent musical theater performer. Earlier this year, Locke made his Broadway debut as Tobias Ragg in the revival of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” The Broadway star joined the cast in its final run, which ended in May. However, this is not the first time Locke performed on stage. Locke made his first stage appearance in Dawn King’s “The Trials” in 2022. Although it’s unclear what holds next, this likely won’t be the last time we see Locke on Broadway.
Known for her roles as True Jackson in “True Jackson, VP” and Emerald Haywood in “Nope,” Keke Palmer has also added “theatrical performer” to her impressive resume. In 2014, Palmer made history by becoming the first Black Cinderella in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” At 21 years old, the Emmy award winner played the lead role for a few months. Following her Broadway debut, Palmer returned to the stage in 2016 for Fox’s live television musical, “Grease: Live,” where she played the role of Marty. Besides performing on stage, the talented performer also has a music career. Last year, Palmer dropped her second studio album, “Big Boss,” which features 10 tracks.
Actor Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his role as Harry Potter in the “Harry Potter” films, is also an award-winning stage actor. After leaving the wizarding world, Radcliffe transitioned into Broadway, appearing in five shows, including “Equus” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” But, Radcliffe gained prominence in Broadway for his role in the acclaimed musical revival, “Merrily We Roll Along.” In the musical revival, Radcliffe played the role of Charley Kringas. Following won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in June. In July, the musical finished its Broadway run. Radcliffe also made several television appearances, where he displayed his singing skills in front of live audiences.
Actors In Musical Films
However, some actors stayed in the film studio, exhibiting their singing skills in musical films. Best known for her role as Karen Smith in “Mean Girls,” Amanda Seyfried has pursued acting roles in musicals as well. Seyfried’s journey into musical films began in 2008 with the widely popular musical, “Mamma Mia.” Casted as Sophie Sheridan, Seyfried sang her heart out to multiple ABBA songs, including “Lay All Your Love On Me” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight).” Four years later, the Emmy and Golden Globe winner was casted in the film adaptation of “Les Misérables,” playing the role of Cosette. And in 2018, Seyfried returned to reprise her role in the musical sequel, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” Earlier this year, Seyfried revealed that she will play Thelma in a Broadway adaptation of “Thelma & Louise.”
Known for her roles as Tashi Donaldson in “Challengers” and Rue Bennett in the HBO series, “Euphoria,” Zendaya is another prominent actor who ventured into musical films. co-starred in the 2017 musical film, “The Greatest Showman.” The Emmy and Golden Globe winner played the role of Anne Wheeler, singing the popular song, “Rewrite The Stars” with Zac Efron. But, before her musical film role, Zendaya was a singer. In 2013, Zendaya released her debut self-titled album, featuring her popular song, “Replay.” And in the season one finale of “Euphoria,” Zendaya performed in a scene, singing Labyrinth’s “All For Us.”
Do any of the actors on this list surprise you? Did we miss any other actors who can sing? Let us know in the comments.
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