Transitioning from global pop stardom to Hollywood acting success is a challenging path. Only a few artists, like Cher and Jennifer Lopez, have managed to excel in both fields. Recently, two pop icons, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, have made this leap with remarkable success. Both women have earned praise from fans and critics for their talents in music and acting. Their ability to connect with audiences on stage and on screen has earned them many prestigious awards in music and film. This article explores how they made this transition while staying relevant in music and what lies ahead for their careers.
Lady Gaga’s Rise from Music to Film
Lady Gaga first gained attention in 2008 with her hit song “Just Dance.” She wrote the song herself, and it was part of her debut album, The Fame. The song quickly became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009. The album later went six times platinum. But before “Just Dance” made her famous, Lady Gaga—whose real name is Stephanie Germanotta—was already experienced in music. She grew up in New York City, where her mother encouraged her musical talents from a young age. Gaga started piano lessons at four and attended music camp. In high school, she acted in plays, which sparked her love for musicals and performing.
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Gaga said, “The ‘90s is how I fell in love with music as a teenager.” Seventeen years later, she has released six studio albums, completed seven world tours, won fourteen Grammy Awards, and scored six number-one songs and seven number-one albums. Lady Gaga is now both a pop icon and a successful actress.
She made her film debut in the mid-2000s with the action thriller Machete Kills. She later starred in bigger roles, such as in the 2018 remake of A Star is Born, alongside Bradley Cooper. Her role earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Two years earlier, she won her first Golden Globe for playing a Countess in the TV series American Horror Story: Hotel.
In a 2022 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Gaga revealed, “I always wanted to be an actor. Much more than I wanted to be a singer. I just always wanted to be an actress, but I was really terrible at auditioning.” Recently, she gave a highly praised performance at Coachella and is currently on a world tour. Her latest album, Mayhem, came out in March. The lead single, “Disease,” reached number 7 on the UK singles chart. Her next acting project is a role in the popular Netflix series Wednesday.
Ariana Grande: From TV Star to Acclaimed Actress
Ariana Grande first appeared on TV in the Nickelodeon show Victorious, playing Cat Valentine. But she became famous worldwide as a singer. Her debut single in 2013, “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller, and her album Yours Truly brought her a top ten spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite her young age, her powerful vocals and strong stage presence have drawn comparisons to Mariah Carey, who she often names as her inspiration. Recently, Grande said she wants to take a break from music to focus on acting.
Grande earned praise for playing Glinda in the stage-to-screen movie Wicked, based on The Wizard of Oz. At the 97th Academy Awards, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and performed alongside co-star Cynthia Erivo. In an interview with Broadway World, Grande spoke about how much the role meant to her and how she had to change her image. “I have never wanted something as badly as I did this. I worked every day with my vocal coaches to transform my voice. I had to deconstruct my singing voice and erase pop star Ari to show I could become this other person.”
Wicked earned over $717 million worldwide and became one of the highest-grossing Broadway musical films. Grande will return as Glinda in the sequel, Wicked: For Good, which will release in November 2025.
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