Top 20 Moments We Found Out an Actor Was a Great Singer
#20: Riley Keough
“Daisy Jones & the Six” (2023)
Given that she is the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, you might’ve assumed that Riley Keough could sing. But it wasn’t until she took on the titular role of Daisy Jones in “Daisy Jones & the Six” that all our assumptions bore out. The miniseries debuted on Prime Video in March of 2023 and tells the fictional tale of the rise and the fall of the band Daisy Jones & the Six in the 1970s. As you might imagine, being the lead female vocalist in a band required Keough to do a lot of singing. And saying she pulled it off is an understatement.
#19: Meryl Streep
“Postcards from the Edge” (1990)
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A new generation of moviegoers might’ve been surprised by Meryl Streep’s singing abilities in films like “Mamma Mia!” and “Into the Woods.” However, if they’d just asked their parents, they could’ve told them about a film from 1990 called “Postcards from the Edge.” The film featured the uber-talented actor showing off her melodic voice and some country twang with a great performance of a song called “I’m Checkin’ Out.” Country music, big musical numbers, ABBA, what can’t this woman do? When we figure it out, we’ll let you know.
#18: Eddie Redmayne
“Les Misérables” (2012)
Eddie Redmayne discovered his love of acting and singing at a young age when, as a ten-year-old, he attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School. But while he’s had a love for singing since childhood, the vast moviegoing audience wasn’t really aware of his abilities until 2012. When Redmayne appeared in the big “Les Misérables” movie he blew many of us away with his vocal talents. While his verses in “Red and Black” were good, it was his take on “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” that was the aha moment.
#17: Emmy Rossum
“The Phantom of the Opera” (2004)
With the release of two albums and a Christmas EP between 2007 and 2013, Emmy Rossum can now be labeled as a hyphenate actor-singer. Prior to that, the latter may have come as a surprise to fans who only knew her as an actor. That is until “The Phantom of the Opera” hit theaters in 2004 and Rossum wowed fans and critics with both her acting and singing as the film’s female lead, Christine Daaé. The truth is we shouldn’t be surprised given that she joined the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus at age seven. Before she was twelve years old, Rossum had performed with both Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
#16: Brittany Murphy
“Happy Feet” (2006)
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Brittany Murphy gave us a tiny little taste of her vocal talents in “Clueless.” Nice to be sure, but that one lyric wasn’t enough for us to know she could really, like really sing. That ability was revealed to a wide moviegoing audience over ten years later when Murphy voiced Gloria the penguin in the animated hit, “Happy Feet.” Gloria definitely stands out as one of the most talented songbirds among the penguins. From “Somebody to Love” to “Boogie Wonderland,” Murphy’s awesome pipes were a highlight of the film.
#15: Dwayne Johnson
“Moana” (2016)
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Dwayne Johnson’s ability on the mic has never been in doubt. His ability to engage and bring a crowd to their feet with his words is legendary. But doing it in a song, well, that’s not something we knew he could do until “Moana.” Sure, he was featured on the Wyclef track “It Doesn't Matter,” but that was all spoken word. As the voice of the demigod Maui in the 2016 Disney animated hit, Johnson showed us that he could totally carry a tune. And to that we say thank you.
#14: Kristen Bell
“Frozen” (2013)
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Kristen Bell did appear on Broadway early in her career. And as Veronica Mars, Bell did rock it at karaoke night in Season 1. But it wasn’t until a few years later that we all really got to appreciate Bell’s singing abilities in 2013’s “Frozen.” Bell lent her voice to Queen Elsa’s sister, Princess Anna. In the beginning of the film when Elsa, fearing her powers, hides away in her room, Anna continues to attempt to bring her out of isolation. “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” is a sweet song that cuts to the heart of a child’s loneliness and desire to just spend time with her sister again. That’s when we knew Bell was a great singer.
#13: Ewan McGregor
“Moulin Rouge!” (2001)
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With “Trainspotting,” Ewan McGregor showed the world that he could recite awesome movie-opening monologues. But it wasn’t until “Moulin Rouge!” that he showed the world he could sing. He had multiple opportunities to show off as well. From “Your Song” to “Come What May,” and more, McGregor’s vocal chops were put to the test throughout the film - and he was up to the challenge each and every time. His musical abilities may have come as a surprise, but they haven’t gone to waste since Moulin Rouge. McGregor’s singing has been featured in several projects he’s undertaken in the intervening years.
#12: Amanda Seyfried
“Mamma Mia!” (2008)
Amanda Seyfried first won us over with her portrayal of Karen Smith in 2004’s “Mean Girls.”
Little did we know that her musical talents extended far beyond an impromptu rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock.” That changed when she was cast in the hit 2008 jukebox musical, “Mamma Mia!” Seyfried sings multiple songs in the movie and we gotta say to her, Honey, Honey, you are good. And just to put a cherry on this sundae, check out her beautiful rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird.” And notice she also plays the piano.
#11: Andrew Garfield
“Tick, Tick... Boom!” (2021)
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There were probably some who scoffed at the thought of Andrew Garfield playing Spider-Man until he web-slung his way to the top. And similarly there were surely some who didn’t think he could pull off the lead role in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2021 musical “Tick, Tick... Boom!” While Garfield had never done anything similar before, he dedicated a year to intense vocal training in preparation for his role as Jonathan Larson. The results speak for themselves. Garfield proved his doubters wrong one song at a time. If anything, his lack of prior experience just makes his vocal chops even more impressive. By the end of the movie, he had sung straight into our hearts.
#10: Emma Stone
“Easy A” (2010)
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Early in her career, Emma Stone showed that she could easily steal a scene with roles like Wichita in “Zombieland.” But it was her role as Olive in “Easy A” that fully brought her into the spotlight. The teen film showed off her comedy and musical skills. In the latter part of the story, her character Olive needs to get the attention of the entire school in order to later lay down some truths. What better way to do that than by breaking into a rendition of “Knock on Wood” at a pep rally? Stone’s raspy belting in this classic was a sneak peek at her future musical accolades. Her role in “La La Land” notably earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
#9: Antonio Banderas
“Evita” (1996)
As Banderas’s first English-speaking role, 1992’s “The Mambo Kings” probably marked the first time many North American audiences heard the actor sing. However, it was a smaller part, and he wasn’t a huge star yet. After solidifying his status as an extremely talented individual in projects like “Desperado” and “ Interview with the Vampire,” Banderas brought Ché to life in 1996’s musical drama “Evita.” He’s the voice of the Argentinian people, expressing how they view Eva Perón – and what a voice he has. He clearly holds his own with co-star Madonna, showing that he’s a musical star to be reckoned with.
#8: Anne Hathaway
“Ella Enchanted” (2004)
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Anne Hathaway had audiences sobbing as Fantine in the 2012 film version of “Les Misérables.” However, her absolutely mesmerizing singing voice was actually revealed in one of her earlier films, “Ella Enchanted.” When Hathaway’s plucky heroine Ella is magically compelled to sing for a crowded tavern full of giants, she belts out a rousing rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” The fun number shows the star’s range, proving she can completely enchant us with her sound. The award-winning actress isn’t one to shy away from the microphone, even triumphing in a playful singing battle against Kelly Clarkson.
#7: Michelle Pfeiffer
“The Fabulous Baker Boys” (1989)
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Many people are shocked when they realize the sassy blonde singing “Cool Rider” (among other tunes) in “Grease 2” is Michelle Pfeiffer in her first big turn as a leading lady. The film wasn’t as well known as other projects of hers, like “Scarface” or “Married to the Mob.” So when her character Susie Diamond auditioned in “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” many folks watching were probably just as surprised as the two pianists at her sultry voice. In the film, Diamond sings a variety of jazz standards. However, it’s her sensual performance of “Makin’ Whoopee” that has become truly iconic, and for good reason. Just look at her go!
#6: Amy Adams
“Enchanted” (2007)
Top 10 Moments We Found Out An Actor Was a Great Singer
Audiences and critics first noticed Amy Adams in her award-winning role as a cheerful chatterbox in 2005’s “Junebug.” But she struggled to match those accolades until she fully embraced her inner princess. Adams sang her way into everyone’s hearts as the sweet and bubbly Giselle. Although tunes like “True Love’s Kiss” and “Happy Working Song” poke a little fun at the Disney musical traditions, Adams’ sweet tone and genuine delivery gives them their own truth. She continued to show off her stunning vocals in films like “The Muppets” and appeared again as Giselle in “Disenchanted.” No matter the part, Adams never fails to deliver both on the acting and singing fronts.
#5: Reese Witherspoon
“Walk the Line” (2005)
The spunky energy Witherspoon brought to characters like Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” made her a perfect fit for the sassy June Carter. However, Witherspoon had no professional singing experience. After extensive training though, she showed audiences she could take the stage with energy and some impressive vocals. She wasn’t the only one to stun in this film, either. Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Johnny Cash had critics like Roger Ebert wondering if he was lip syncing to the original artist. But nope – both actors perform all of their own music for the film, and when their voices combine, it’s true cinematic magic.
#4: Emily Blunt
“Into the Woods” (2014)
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Emily Blunt excels at portraying confident women, whether it’s as the sarcastic assistant in “The Devil Wears Prada” or as the destroyer of aliens in “Edge of Tomorrow.” So it’s somewhat surprising to hear that she was “apprehensive” about singing as the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods.” Sondheim’s music is notoriously difficult, but Blunt’s first song in the film makes it clear that she had no reason to be worried. It’s a good thing too, because just a few years later she expertly brought the one and only Mary Poppins to life. Her charming musical performance as the magical nanny even has her keeping up with all-star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
#3: Jeremy Renner
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (2014-)
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If you caught a few of Jeremy Renner’s early movies, you might’ve noticed that he could carry a tune. There’s notably a brief moment in 2005’s “North Country” where we hear him do some credible karaoke. However, once he started slinging arrows in the MCU, it was hard to think of Renner as anything but Hawkeye. So it was a fun moment for all when he combined his singing background with his action hero status on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” In the segment, Renner sits down at a piano in costume, fully in character, and belts about the character’s many unappreciated talents. If you want more of that, he’s also released music of his own! Where’s his part in “Rogers: The Musical?”
#2: Hugh Jackman
The Tony Awards
Hugh Jackman had his breakout as Wolverine in the “X-Men” franchise. So it might’ve surprised those action fans to learn that he has an extensive musical theater background. Interestingly, one of his first acting jobs was playing Gaston in the stage version of “Beauty and the Beast.” We’d also be remiss not to mention his work in “The Boy from Oz.” His performance as Jean Valjean in 2012’s “Les Misérables” movie further demonstrated his vocal prowess to a wide audience. However, he blew many out of the water when he put his skills on display as host of the Tony Awards several times. Jackman seemingly had a great time showing off his singing talents for musical theater fans with a variety of cheeky melodies.
#1: Catherine Zeta-Jones
“Chicago” (2002)
“Chicago” director Rob Marshall says that Catherine Zeta-Jones was an easy choice for his film. Indeed, her musical theater experience started with a West End production of “Annie” when she was still just a kid. However, until “Chicago,” many fans mainly knew her as a leading lady in action and comedy flicks. When Zeta-Jones made her sultry entrance as the merry murderess Velma Kelly, her powerful vocals were a delightful surprise. Her passionate and powerful voice not only stole the show, but also earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Considering the way she fully immerses herself into and sells each of the film’s songs with gusto, it’s easy to see why.
