Source: “Lady Sings the Blues,” “Walk the Line,” “Cadillac Records” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Music biopics might be the most popular movies based on real-life people. But they can be the most challenging as well. Some actors might look the part and are able to connect with the story, but some actors CAN’T SING and have to perfect lip-syncing the to the musician’s work.
For instance, Deborah Cox isn’t playing Whitney Houston, but she is providing the singing voice for the stunning Yaya DaCosta who has proven she can look and act like Houston. Cox provided a snippet of her performing the title track for the upcoming Lifetime biopic, “I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story.”
Nevertheless, there are actors who can look, act, dance, perform and SING the part every now and then. And MadameNoire compiled a list of 15 actors and films with little to no lip-syncing and new original recordings of their actors as the musicians.
Source: “Lady Sings the Blues”
Diana Ross
Ross doesn’t particularly look or sound like Billie Holiday. But she gave an amazing performance and embodied the blues legend in Lady Sings The Blues. That only makes sense since Ross is a legend herself. She completely sang Holiday’s classics. And in result, released a number one soundtrack album. Also, she garnered an Academy-Award nomination for her beautiful performance, only the second or third black actress at the time to be nominated in a lead category. She shared this feat with Cicely Tyson in Sounder.
Source: “Lady Day”
Audra McDonald
Ross isn’t the only actress to embody Billie Holiday. McDonald hasn’t played Holiday in a film yet, but she’s stunning in the play, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. The play won her a Tony award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. It became her sixth Tony award and for good reason too.
Source: “The Doors”
Val Kilmer
Kilmer transformed into The Doors frontman Jim Morrison before he even got the part. He spent several thousand dollars of his own money to capture the rocker in an eight-minute video he later sent to director Oliver Stone, trying to convince him he was the right guy for the part. After obtaining the role, he spent months rehearsing and preparing to star in the film. It all payed off as Kilmer’s performance and voice were praised, although the film was met with mixed reviews.
Source: “Coal Miner’s Daughter”
Sissy Spacek
Loretta Lynn chose Spacek to portray her based on a photo, although never seeing any of her films. Ironically, Spacek wanted to sing in order to scare off the studio because she didn’t want to participate in the film. Spacek also had scheduling conflicts. But in the end, she chose “Coal Miner’s Daughter” after asking for a sign and hearing the title song on the radio. Spacek’s voice and performance won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1981.
Source: “Walk the Line”
Joaquin Phoenix
Phoenix actually met Johnny Cash months before hearing anything about the film. He thought he wasn’t fit for the role. Unlike Jamie Foxx in Ray, a year prior, Phoenix actually recorded and performed all of the Cash’s music — not just some of it. And maybe if Foxx didn’t win for a similar type of role at the Oscars the previous year, Phoenix would’ve won for his amazing performance here.
Source: “Walk the Line”
Reese Witherspoon
Joaquin Phoenix isn’t the only actor to do original singing for Walk the Line. Witherspoon watched many videos of June Carter Cash to get down her singing and voice. She sang just like June Carter Cash and perfected her vocals. Her performance was universally praised. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in 2006.
Source: “The Jacksons: An American Dream”
Jason Weaver
Weaver is a singer and is actually like a young Michael Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” He sings songs the Jackson 5 never recorded… like MJ would. Just watch this video here.
Source: “Greetings from Tim Buckley”
Penn Badgley
Badgley went through vocal and guitar lessons to portray Jeff Buckley, the folk singer following in his father’s Tim Buckley footsteps. The singer drowned in 1997 at 30 as his career was blossoming. Badgley told Soundcheck, “I’d grown up singing, I’d grown up loving and playing music. As much as I loved it it’s kind of strange that I never pursued it, and I think it’s because I started acting at such a young age…” And it worked as his performance was praised for his talented voice.
Source: “Sid and Nancy”
Gary Oldman
Oldman definitely tapped into Sex Pistol’s Sid Vicious’s essence — taking on his persona and voice. But former bandmate, John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) did have a slight criticism of his role, “I thought was quite good. But even he only played the stage persona as opposed to the real person. I don’t consider that Gary Oldman’s fault because he’s a bloody good actor.” Nevertheless, Oldman garnered critical acclaim for his role and capturing Sid’s sound.
Source: “Beyond the Sea”
Kevin Spacey
Spacey does look the part, but he was technically too old for the role of Bobby Darrin. But that didn’t stop him from singing his music including “Beyond the Sea.” Although the film was met with mixed reviews and bombed at box office, Spacey’s performance and singing voice were praised. Nevertheless, he received a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.”
Source: “What We Do Is Secret”
Shane West
West played Darby Crash (who he closely resembles), the lead singer of the Germs. The film follows the group’s rise to fame and Crash’s mysterious “five-year plan.” West definitely connected with the film’s subject matter and Crash. Like him, West was the lead singer of a pop-punk band, Johnny Was. West has even performed with the Germs.
Source: “Cadillac Records”
Mos Def
Mos Def is definitely more than a rapper or actor. He can sing too. He proved he could embody groundbreaking rock and roll artist, Chuck Berry, in Cadillac Records. Mos Def captured the living legend onscreen. And he was featured on the film’s soundtrack with “Nadine” and “No Particular Place to Go.”
Source: “Cadillac Records”
Jeffrey Wright
But Mos Def isn’t the only actor who can sing! Wright — like every role he takes on — lived and breathed the character of Muddy Waters. And who knew Wright could have such a bluesy voice. Like Mos Def, Wright was included on the film’s soundtrack — with “I’m a Hoochie Coochie Man.”
Source: “Cadillac Records”
Columbus Short
We all know Columbus Short can act and dance, but he can sing too. Not only is he releasing R&B songs these days, but when he played Little Walter back in 2009, he sang “My Babe.” He was featured on the biopic’s soundtrack for the song.
Source: “Cadillac Records”
Beyoncé
There is no doubt Beyoncé can sing… except for her haters don’t think so. And that’s why there’s a Beygency. Anyways, the role of Etta James was written with Beyoncé in mind. And she proved that not only she could sing and look like James, but she could act! Her covers of James’ songs are chilling — including “At Last.”
