Celeb job swappers

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill

To celebrate Norah Jones crossing over from the world of music to star in her first film, My Blueberry Nights, we present a look at other celeb job-swappers.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Norah Jones

 
Jazz artist Norah Jones is the latest singer to try her hand at acting. The star - whose first album Come Away With Me won no less than eight Grammy\'s - makes her film debut in My Blueberry Nights alongside an all-star cast including Jude Law, Natalie Portman, David Strathairn and Rachel Weisz. Norah plays an aspiring singer who sets off on a life-changing road trip after a difficult break-up. The 28-year-old - who features on the movie\'s soundtrack - recently admitted that combining both acting and singing had left her at the point of exhaustion and she now plans to take a year off.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February  

Beyoncé

Beyoncé is one of the most success female singers of recent years, enjoying success both with former band Destiny\'s Child, and as a solo-artist. But the 26-year-old is also making waves in the movie industry after a number of box office hits. She made her big screen debut in the third Austin Powers installment in 2002 and won rave reviews. She then starred with Steve Martin in The Pink Panther before taking her most challenging role as Deena (a character based on Diana Ross) in DreamGirls. She received a Golden Globe nomination but was overshadowed by the remarkable performance of co-star Jennifer Hudson who took home both a Golden Globe and an Oscar. 

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Mariah Carey

Unlike Norah Jones, Mariah Carey\'s first attempt in film, with the rags-to-riches tale Glitter, was shall we say less than a success. However, the singer/songwriter refused to give up on acting and later co-starred with Mira Sorvino in the critically acclaimed film Wise Girls. She is currently starring in an Adam Sandler comedy as well as preparing for the release of her next album That Chic.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Billie Piper

Billie Piper is best known for her role as Rose Tyler in BBC show Doctor Who, but the Swindon blonde actually began her career as a teen pop sensation. 15-year-old Billie\'s first single Because We Want To went straight to the top of the charts in 1998 and she enjoyed two hit albums as well as a relationship with boyband member Ritchie Neville (a match made in pop heaven). But Billie insists that she never enjoyed her music career and felt a like a fraud due to her limited vocal ability. After quitting her music career and marrying Chris Evans, Billie began pursuing an acting career and has never looked back. She was voted Most Popular Actress at the National TV Awards in 1995 and has received critical acclaim for her roles in period dramas The Ruby in the Smoke and Mansfield Park. She is currently playing a prostitute in ITV series The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February  

Will Smith

Hollywood star Will Smith has been nominated for an Oscar for his role in Ali and starred in some of the biggest box office hits ever. But his first love is music and Will began his career as one half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince with hits such as Summertime and Boom Shake The Room. The father-of-three has continued to dabble in music in between movies and performed songs for the Men In Black, Wild Wild West and Hitch soundtracks.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue first burst onto our screens in the ‘80s as garage mechanic Charlene Mitchell in Aussie soap Neighbours. Charlene became one of the show\'s most popular characters ever and a record 2.8 million viewers tuned in to watch her marry Scott Robinson (played by Kylie\'s then boyfriend Jason Donovan). After a two year stint in Neighbours Kylie moved to England to launch herself as a singer - as was the fashion at the time. While many of the other soap-stars turned singers disappeared without a trace Kylie\'s music career has spanned two decades and she\'s sold in excess off 40 million albums. The 39-year-old returned to her acting roots last year, appearing in a Christmas special of BBC show Doctor Who. Her presence helped the show receive it\'s highest ever ratings since its revival.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Jared Leto

Jared Leto\'s first taste of fame was as Claire Dane\'s love interest in teenage drama My So-called Life. After the show was cancelled Leto continued acting and starred in films such as Fight Club and The Last of the High Kings. But it seems that trapped inside the heartthrob actor was a wild rocker desperate to escape! Jared formed rock-outfit 30 Seconds to Mars with his brother Shannon in 1998 and the group has had moderate success. The 37-year-old has since taken to wearing heavy black make-up and is almost unrecognisable as a former angel-faced pin-up. Jared still makes the occasional movie and last year he appeared in Chapter 27 alongside Lindsay Lohan.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis began acting when she was a child and was nominated for an Oscar by the age of 18. She continued to win critics over with roles in Woody Allen\'s Husband\'s And Wives and Kalifornia in which she starred with then boyfriend Brad Pitt. After reaching her thirties Lewis decided it was time to pursue her passion for music and formed punk band Juliette and the Licks. The group have enjoyed critical success and their last album Four On The Floor was well received. Juliette, now a Scientologist, says that despite her music success she still loves acting and has no plans to give it up.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Scarlett Johansson

Lost In Translation star Scarlett Johansson is the latest actress to announce that she is to launch a music career. The 22-year-old is currently working on an album of cover versions of songs by singer/songwriter Tom Waits which is set for release this spring. Scarlett, who also stars in Girl With A Pearl Earring, The Island and the upcoming The Other Boleyn Girl, was previously being lined up to play Maria in West End musical The Sound Of Music but was unable to negotiate a deal in time. Scarlett Sings Tom Waits has been generating a lot of industry buzz with experts praising Scarlett \'s vocal abilities. "Unlike some other recent pop tarts, Scarlett can actually sing," said a top US celebrity columnist. Watch this space!

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February

Lindsay Lohan

Actress Lindsay Lohan has also dabbled in music. The 21-year-old has released two albums: Speak in 2004, which sold around 1.6million records, and A Little More Personal in 2005, selling 600,000. She was in talks to record a third, but plans are thought to have been put on hold until the troubled star - who checked  into rehab twice last year - manages to straighten herself out. It may not have had commercial success, but Lindsay garnered critical acclaim with her film role in Georgia Rule, and previously in the smart teen comedy Mean Girls. Fingers crossed Lindsay returns to both the film and music world with success that equals her previous triumphs.

See My Blueberry Nights in cinemas 22 February