“Funny as hell”, “an enjoyable ride” and “thrilling” are just some of the terms that have been used to describe the new buddy-comedy One Of Them Days (now showing at Cineworld). Directed by Lawrence Lamont, the movie stars Keke Palmer and SZA as two friends who are forced to come up with increasingly creative ways of making money after their landlord rips them off.
Keke Palmer has appeared in numerous movies, notably the 2022 horror film Nope, the 2022 Toy Story spin-off Lightyear (as a voice actor) and the 2019 crime drama Hustlers. But One Of Them Days is a movie debut for SZA (real name Solána Imani Rowe), who’s better known as a pop singer with a number of hit records and a Glastonbury headline slot under her belt. Considering it’s her first time on the big screen, she does an amazing job, delivering her lines with brilliant comic timing and a generous dollop of charm.
Of course, SZA isn’t the first pop star to try their hand at acting – from Elvis Presley to Madonna, there’s a long line of music icons who’ve swapped the microphone for the clapperboard. Here, we take a look at some of the more memorable performances…
SZA – One of Them Days (2025)
SZA (it’s prouncouned Scissor in case you didn’t know) has achieved a lot in her relatively short career. As well as that Glastonbury headline appearance, she’s been nominated for no fewer than five Grammy awards. Acting is a new experience for the singer, though – and she admits that she was surprised to get the part in One of Them Days. “I don’t know why [producer Issa Rae] would book me for a feature film, but we’re here,” she told Teen Vogue. “When I got on camera it was spooky, but Keke literally ushered me through. I would do a take and I’d be like, ‘That’s it, we’re moving on,’ in my mind, but the learning experience and the growth that it gave me, I’m super grateful for that.”
Ariana Grande – Wicked (2024)
Who better to play Glinda the Good in John M. Chu’s movie adaptation of the Oz-based stage musical than sugar-sweet pop sensation Ariana Grande. Not only did the Florida-born singer have the right image, and an angelic voice that had seen her score seven Top 10 albums in the UK, she also had huge commercial appeal among viewers of a certain age. And critics were impressed with what they saw, with The Playlist’s Gregory Ellwood gushing that she “often delivers startling depth to her character before jumping into a musical number that will have you grinning from ear to ear.” A sequel, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled to land at Cineworld on 21 November – and Ariana is back on board.
Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born (2018)
Is there no end to Lady Gaga’s talents? Already a pop superstar and a global fashion icon, the ‘Paparazzi’ star waltzed into the role of Ally Campana in Eric Roth’s musical drama like she’d been acting her whole life. This was especially impressive considering the dark themes of the movie, which included addiction and suicide. Time critic Stephanie Zacharek described Gaga’s performance as “knockout”, while her co-star Bradley Cooper, when asked by Entertainment Weekly if the two would work together again, replied: “That would be amazing.” While that’s yet to happen, Gaga has returned to the big screen, playing opposite Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie à Deux.
Harry Styles – Dunkirk (2017)
As a former member of the global phenomenon that was One Direction, and by this point a top-tier solo artist, Harry Styles was an obvious choice to play one of the dashing young soldiers in Christoper Nolan’s epic war drama. And though many cynics didn’t have high hopes for his proper acting debut (those cheesy pop videos don’t count), the boy from Warrington did a decent job – indeed, Brian Truitt of USA Today went so far as to say that Styles offered “a surprising amount of grit and pathos”. The 1D man has gone on to play sizeable roles in Eternals, Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman – and no doubt there will be many more to come.
Beyoncé – Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Beyoncé is something of a silver screen stalwart these days, having appeared in a whole bunch of movies (including The Lion King, Dreamgirls and The Pink Panther). Those of us of a certain age will remember the ripple of anticipation that greeted her film debut in the second Austin Powers movie, however. The then-19-year-old was cast as Powers’ sidekick Foxxy Brown, a character who oozed swagger and confidence. In reality, though, the young Beyoncé was anything but confident. “I was very nervous, I didn’t really know what I was doing," she told the BBC. "I was just grateful to get the opportunity. I tried to learn – I felt like it was a new chapter of my life. A new way to grow as an artist.”
Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard (1992)
Whitney Houston had long been a global star by the time The Bodyguard came out, but her acting debut in Mick Jackson’s romantic drama – in which she starred opposite Kevin Costner – certainly didn’t do her career any harm. It might not have happened at all, though, as the movie was originally going to be made in the 1970s with Diana Ross and Ryan O’Neal in the main roles, before Ross pulled out of the project. While critics weren’t exactly falling over themselves to praise the film, or Whitney’s performance, it did yield a mega-hit for the singer, with her cover of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You remaining on top of the UK chart for a then-record-breaking 14 weeks.
David Bowie – Labyrinth (1986)
The Thin White Duke appeared in numerous movies throughout his illustrious career, but the one he’s probably best remembered for (apart from that short introduction at the start of The Snowman) is Jim Henson’s fantasy adventure Labyrinth. Looking not unlike one of his own stage creations in a punkish golden wig and thick make-up, Bowie stole the show as the goblin king Jareth. Even years later, it was that role, rather than his musical legacy, that a certain age group knew him for. In a 2002 interview for the Australian current affairs show 60 Minutes, the singer admitted: “Kids are brought up to me and their mums say, ‘This is Jareth, from Labyrinth.’"
.jpg)
.png)
