It might seem like it’s all about the luxury and the good times, but make no mistake: acting is serious business. When certain celebrities convince themselves they possess the necessary acting chops to star or even appear in a major Hollywood production, the result is, almost always, top-tier cringe material. While some immediately recognize that they aren’t actor material, others stubbornly insist on staying in front of the cameras – and we’re about to meet 10 of these stars. Here are actors who can’t act.
10. Common (Lonnie Rashid Lynn)
Common brings a strong physical presence to his roles that’s tough to match for most musicians-turned-actors. While his stoicism is effective in movies like John Wick 2, he struggles to convey real emotional depth. He’s great in Silo, though.
9. Steven Seagal
A once legendary action superstar, Steven Seagal’s refusal to give up the “tough guy” persona in his later years led to some of the most incredibly baffling films ever produced. He’s been mostly silent since 2019 – and one look at the IMDb scores of his latter movies tells us exactly why.
8. Mark Wahlberg
There’s nothing explicitly wrong with Wahlberg’s acting skills. He has a limited range, and he knows it – which is why he’s in his element when he’s asked to play basically himself in movies like Ted and The Other Guys.
7. Taylor Swift
The idea of having the world’s leading pop sensation in your film should be great for marketing purposes. However, when you notice that Swift’s most prominent acting credit was for 2019’s Cats, that’s when you realize you’re better off staying at the top of the music industry.
6. Cara Delevingne
The transition from high-fashion modeling to acting proved trickier than expected for Delevingne. While she approaches roles with enthusiasm, her performances, particularly in leading spots like Paper Towns and Valerian, fall flat and lack the range an actor needs.
5. Dakota Johnson
The Fifty Shades star has struggled with more demanding roles, and with toxic fans who label her a “nepo baby” for her industry connections, proving that coming from a dynasty of acting talents isn’t a guarantee of success in Hollywood.
4. Colson Baker (Machine Gun Kelly)
MGK has a talent for starring in indie flicks and nailing roles on Netflix, including Bird Box and Project Power. Unfortunately, his limited acting experience still doesn’t match his earnest performances, making his roles feel more like cameos.
3. Dwayne Johnson
Yes, he might be one of the most successful household names in Hollywood, but audiences are steadily growing bored with Dwayne Johnson playing the same “suave and manly comic relief” character in every movie he’s ever been in. The Smashing Machine could change all that, however.
2. Jennifer Lopez
J.Lo’s a bona fide triple threat: singer, dancer, and producer. But her acting? It’s the weak link in that shiny chain, forever stuck in “meh” territory. Heartbreaking for the dozen die-hard Gigli stans still out there, clutching their VHS tapes and hoping for a remake.
1. Gal Gadot
While most celebrities in this list have been occasional actors, Gal Gadot has become a full-time Hollywood regular, much to the detriment of movie buffs everywhere. Her flat delivery and unenthusiastic performances don’t match her stunning looks, leaving us to wonder how she keeps landing high-profile roles.
