When celebs are within the highlight for a very long time, it is solely pure that they will change in the course of the course of. And typically, they could wish to utterly swap up their careers.
However…it does not at all times go so effectively. Listed here are 10 occasions stars tried — and utterly failed — to reinvent themselves, and 13 occasions stars nailed a profession shift.
1.
FAILED REINVENTION: Garth Brooks is without doubt one of the strangest examples. In 1999, Brooks, then a profitable nation artist, determined to launch an alter ego — Chris Gaines — in preparation for a deliberate film concerning the homicide of Gaines to be known as The Lamb.
The fictional Gaines was a rock artist, and Garth, as Gaines, appeared as a musical visitor on SNL and in a mockumentary for Behind the Music. Garth additionally launched an album as Gaines forward of The Lamb movie titled, Garth Brooks in…the Lifetime of Chris Gaines. Folks have been fairly confused about the entire thing, and when the album did not promote in addition to anticipated, The Lamb was dropped solely.
2.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: In distinction, Taylor Swift is a good instance of a musician who has completed not one, however two profitable style jumps. Her first 4 albums have been nation, however she pivoted genres to synth-pop with 1989, her fifth album.
Her subsequent two albums have been additionally pop (albeit with influences from different genres like R&B and rock)…however then she pivoted genres but once more with associate albums Folklore and Evermore, which have been each indie-folk albums (nonetheless with pop and rock influences).
3.
FAILED REINVENTION: Nevertheless, Swift’s forays into performing haven’t gone as effectively. Her first position was a short spot on CSI, and he or she went on to look in Valentine’s Day, The Lorax, and Cats, none of which have been effectively acquired.
4.
FAILED REINVENTION: Paris Hilton grew to become a media fixture within the 2000s, largely for being a rich socialite, although she additionally did some modeling after which grew to become a actuality star with The Easy Life.
She launched quite a lot of profitable enterprise ventures, most notably her fragrance line, however in 2006 determined to strive one thing new: singing. She launched her first album, Paris, in August of that 12 months. Her single “Love Is Blind” truly was very profitable, and hit 18 on the Billboard High 100.
Nevertheless, reception to the album was general mixed, and it was the one one Paris ever launched (although she did launch a couple of extra singles). Extra just lately, she’s tried her hand on DJing, even DJing at Tomorrowland and Summerfest. Whereas she’s discovered plenty of success and earns $1million per set, she’s additionally discovered a lot of critics.
5.
FAILED REINVENTION: As well as, Hilton additionally tried her hand at an performing profession, reserving visitor spots on quite a lot of exhibits like The O.C. and Supernatural, and most notably starring in Home of Wax. She received a Razzie for her efficiency, and has not appeared in one other performing position (although she has appeared in documentaries and as a TV hosts and actuality star) since 2010.
6.
FAILED REINVENTION: Kim Kardashian, then a profitable socialite and actuality star, additionally tried out a singing profession in 2011, releasing “Jam (Flip It Up).”
Kardashian later mentioned she regretted recording the tune. “But when there’s one factor in life that I want I didn’t do … I don’t prefer it when folks sort of dabble into issues they shouldn’t be. And that I don’t suppose I ought to have. Like, what gave me the precise to suppose I could possibly be a singer? Like, I don’t have voice,” she said in 2014.
7.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Again within the late ’90s, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was identified primarily for being a professional wrestler. However beginning in 1999, he started showing in small roles along with wrestling (which he retired from in 2004, although he did later return).
His first main mission was The Mummy Returns in 2001, and from there he continued to select up roles in quite a lot of high-profile tasks, working his approach onto the A-list with involvement within the Quick & Livid, Jumanji, and DCEU franchises, in addition to Disney movie Moana. He was the highest-paid actor, in response to Forbes, in 2022.
8.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: John Cena has adopted primarily the identical path, albeit in a much less family-friendly approach. He got here onto the film scene with 2006’s The Marine, however it wasn’t till his position in Trainwreck that individuals actually began to see him as an actor.
After that, he grew to become concerned in additional high-profile tasks, like The Suicide Squad and a by-product collection on HBO based mostly on his character Peacemaker.
9.
FAILED REINVENTION: A 3rd wrestler who was not fairly as profitable in his profession swap was Hulk Hogan. He tried to start out a film profession within the ’80s with a bit position in Rocky III, and appeared in a couple of different TV films and sequels, like a cameo Gremlins 2, in addition to TV exhibits like Thunder in Paradise, which solely ran for a season. None of Hogan’s lead film roles were well reviewed.
FAILED REINVENTION: In 1995, whereas he was the World Heavyweight Champion, Hogan additionally launched an album, Hulk Guidelines, as part of the band Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band. The album was panned, and the band didn’t launch one other album. Nevertheless, the album has change into a little bit of a cult hit as a consequence of its “so unhealthy it is good” standing.
10.
FAILED REINVENTION: One other athlete-turned-actor is Shaq. He is primarily often known as one of many best basketball gamers of all time, however he is additionally made forays into quite a lot of different ventures.
Beginning within the ’90s, he started starring in movies, specifically Kazaam and Metal. Both were critically panned, and he has been nominated for 3 Razzie awards. Regardless of this, he continues to look within the occasional movie or TV position, often as himself or in a cameo capability.
12.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Mark Wahlberg began out his profession within the early ’90s with hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which had quite a lot of hit songs and located fame.
He then made his movie debut in 1994’s Renaissance Man, and have become an acclaimed actor in 1997 with Boogie Nights. He is even been nominated for a pair Oscars for his roles in The Departed (alongside massively acclaimed legacy actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Martin Sheen) and The Fighter.
13.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Woman Gaga made an analogous swap. After spending years as a profitable pop artist, she determined to strive her hand at performing within the mid-2010s.
She began with American Horror Story, which received her a Golden Globe, after which made her function movie debut in A Star Is Born, for which she remodeled right into a down-on-her-luck aspiring singer. She was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal, and did win an Oscar for her work on “Shallow” for the movie.
She went on to star in Home of Gucci, and has quite a few different roles within the works.
14.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: One star who made the alternative swap — from film star to music star — is Taylor Momsen. Momsen’s first giant position was as Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and he or she went on to look in different household movies like Spy Children 2.
And in 2007, she started starring as Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Lady. She was a primary character for 3 seasons, however solely appeared for a couple of episodes of the fourth season. She ended up leaving the present after Season 4.
This was largely due to her foray into music. She shaped her band the Fairly Reckless in 2009, they usually launched their first album in 2010. They’ve since launched 4 albums and toured with the Veronicas, Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, and Marilyn Manson, in addition to had their music seem in movies and tv.
15.
FAILED REINVENTION: One other actor who tried to interrupt into singing from the performing trade was Robert Downey Jr. Downey Jr. was a profitable actor when in 2004, he determined to launch his debut album, Futurist.
The album wasn’t a full flop, however it had a mixed important reception and would find yourself being Downey Jr.’s solely take a look at drive into music. He was already in the beginning of a film profession resurgence, and would famously go on to painting Tony Stark within the MCU.
16.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: If we’re speaking about actors-turned singers, we actually cannot ignore Drake. He starred for years on the teenager collection Degrassi: The Subsequent Era, and was often known as Aubrey Graham.
In 2006, whereas he was nonetheless on Degrassi, he launched his first mixtapes. He made two extra within the late 2000s earlier than dropping his first full album in 2010, skyrocketing him into a lot bigger fame than earlier than. He is since received 4 Grammy Awards, and has been nominated dozens of occasions.
17.
FAILED REINVENTION: Cindy Crawford skyrocketed into world fame within the Eighties, shortly turning into one among a handful of supermodels dominating the style world within the ’90s. Nevertheless, within the mid-’90s, she determined to strive one thing new.
Crawford starred in her first movie in 1995, a thriller known as Truthful Recreation co-starring William Baldwin. The movie was panned, with reviewers commenting specifically on Crawford’s efficiency — one wrote, “One may scavenge the thesaurus to search out synonyms for ‘awkward’ to explain Crawford’s efficiency,” and one other wrote, “Crawford can be suggested to maintain her day job.”
She appeared in a couple of one-off TV roles up till the early 2000s, however her film profession was just about over. In addition to musi movies, a 2009 look on Wizards of Waverly Place, and a pair appearances as herself, she has not acted since.
18.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Mannequin Diane Kruger, in distinction, made a much more profitable swap from modeling to performing. Within the Nineties, she booked advertisements and runway exhibits for quite a lot of high-end designers like Armani, Dior, and Burberry, and in addition appeared on the duvet of magazines like Vogue Paris.
Nevertheless, within the early 2000s, she transitioned to a movie profession, nabbing giant roles in Troy and Nationwide Treasure. Nevertheless, most likely her most well-known position to this point is in Inglourious Basterds, for which she acquired important acclaim.
19.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Jane Fonda began her profession as an actor again in 1960 within the play There Was a Little Lady, for which she was nominated for a Tony. She continued performing for over twenty years, profitable two Oscars and an Emmy.
Nevertheless, in 1982, she made the surprising profession pivot towards train movies, discovering large success along with her 22 exercise VHS tapes.
She even efficiently pivoted again into performing within the mid-2000s, and simply completed starring on Grace and Frankie (for which she was nominated for an Emmy).
20.
FAILED REINVENTION: Influencer Addison Rae just lately tried her hand at a singing profession. Identified primarily for her TikTok dances, Rae determined to launch a single, “Obsessed,” in 2021. She went on to carry out it on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The tune — and efficiency on Fallon — have been panned, and Rae has been holding fairly mum on the upcoming album she beforehand teased.
She additionally made her movie debut with 2021 rom-com He is All That. Whereas the movie was panned, Addison has since signed a deal with Netflix, so it is unlikely her budding performing profession goes away anytime quickly. That being mentioned, we’ll maintain out our “failed vs. profitable” reinvention judgment for now.
21.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Bo Burnham stared out his profession making comedic YouTube movies as a young person within the mid- to late 2000s. By 2010, he was doing standup comedy and had filmed his first comedy particular.
Burnham continued to search out high-profile success as a comic with extra taped specials — but in addition determined to strive one thing solely new when he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed indie Eighth Grade, which got here out in 2018.
He additionally started a film profession along with his first dramatic position within the Oscar-nominated movie Promising Younger Lady in 2020.
22.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: Olivia Wilde has been a profitable actor because the 2000s, however within the early 2010s, she tried her hand at a unique artwork type: directing. Beginning out, she solely directed a couple of music movies and shorts.
After which in 2019, Wilde made a reputation for herself as a director with Booksmart, which was a important and business success. She’s additionally directed the upcoming movie Do not Fear Darling, which is very anticipated, although it has been mired in controversy.
23.
SUCCESSFUL REINVENTION: And eventually, Jordan Peele is without doubt one of the strongest examples of a profitable profession pivot. He started a robust profession in sketch comedy within the 2000s, starring on Mad TV after which co-creating and starring in Key & Peele within the 2010s.
Like Burnham, Peele determined to strive his hand at directing within the mid-2010s — however in a unique style solely. His directorial debut, Get Out, was critically acclaimed and have become one of the vital well-known trendy horror movies. It jump-started Peele’s horror directing profession, and he is gone on to direct two extra movies and produce a couple of movies as effectively.
What different stars have made large profession pivots — profitable or in any other case? Tell us within the feedback!