The amazing part of being an actor or actress is the endless opportunities they have to explore their craft. From movies to TV shows to Broadway plays to commercials to music videos — they have many options to play around with.
For these 10 famous stars, some actually got their start on a music video (hi, Courteney Cox) while others already had an established career. Regardless of when they made their music video debut, fans were gifted with their surprise appearance when they watched the music video. Let’s take a look at 10 actors we forgot starred in music videos.
SHIA LABEOUF: ‘ELASTIC HEART’ BY SIA
In 2013, Sia released her song “Elastic Heart.” The music video, of course, starred her little protege Maddie Ziegler but there was someone else in the vide too: actor Shia LaBeouf. Shia is known for an array of work. He’s done everything from the Disney Channel to iconic movies like American Honey and The Peanut Butter Falcon.
In the video, Shia’s character goes head to head with Maddie’s character in an odd dance battle of sorts. And while it sounds odd, the video was poetic justice and told a complicated story with Shia in the front of it.
ADRIAN GRENIER: ‘YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY’ BY BRITNEY SPEARS
Before Adrian Grenier hit it big with the show Enterouge, he starred in Drive Me Crazy alongside Melissa Joan Hart in 1999. In the movie, Melissa and Adrian’s characters were neighbors who pretend to hook up to make a statement at prom. Their little plan changes when the two begin to really fall for one another.
Coincidently, Britney Spears had a song in the movie called “You Drive Me Crazy,” and to coincide with the film, both Hart and Grenier were in the music video.
TOM HANKS: ‘I REALLY LIKE YOU’ BY CARLY RAE JEPSEN
Tom Hanks is one of the biggest and brightest actors in Hollywood. After being in the spotlight for the majority of his life, it doesn’t appear that he’s slowing down anytime soon. He’s a Golden Globe, SAG, and Academy Award Winner (among others).
He’s known as a serious actor. So, if there was ever a chance that he would be in a music video, one would suspect any artist in the world other than popstar Carly Rae Jepsen. For her song “I Really Like You,” the video shows Hanks literally voicing Jepsen’s lyrics as he goes about his day in the video.
AMANDLA STENBERG & ZENDAYA: ‘ALL NIGHT’ BY BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé’s Lemonade album broke records and melted people’s hearts. It was a lyrical and visual masterpiece. We saw quite a few famous faces throughout her visual album but in “All Night,” we saw Hunger Games actress Amanda Sternberg and former Disney star Zendaya.
The group of women all looked stunning surrounding Beyoncé. And while their acting abilities are phenomenal, their mere presence was enough to make this video what it was.
MILA KUNIS: ‘JADED’ BY AEROSMITH
In 2006, the rock band Aerosmith released their song “Jaded,” which happened to star Mila Kunis. At the time, Kunis was starring in the first season of That ’70s Show and was on the verge of becoming a huge celebrity.
Due to her great work on TV, she was cast as Aermosmith’s leading lady in their music video. In the video, Mila is a woman in the spotlight who appears to be adored by fans and assistants but she runs off to the forest where she appears to feel whole again.
SERAYAH: ‘BAD BLOOD’ BY TAYLOR SWIFT
Actress Serayah is known for her role on Empire. She’s been on the show since 2015 and hasn’t had many other acting gigs because of it. However, this girl has talent. Not only is she a great actress but she’s also launching into music herself. She’s even buddies with Taylor Swift, who asked Serayah to be in her 2014 “Bad Blood” music video.
The video itself starred many of T-Swift’s famous best friends (who are all models, actresses, and singers) and Serayah played the part of “Dilemma.” In the video, Taylor and her group of girlfriends are getting ready for battle (but who they’re battling is unknown, although many are suspecting it’s Katy Perry).
MILO VENTIMIGLIA: ‘BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY’ BY FERGIE
These days, actor Milo Ventimiglia is known for his role as Jack in This is Us. However, he’s been acting since the mid-’90s. He was in American Dreams, Gilmore Girls, Heroes, and a ton more. He’s talented (and handsome) beyond words.
Back in 2006, Fergie released her song “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” with Milo starring as her love interest in the music video. Funny enough, Milo looks the exact same as he did a little over 10 years ago. Nevertheless, Fergie’s song was a hit and everyone loved the fact that Jess from Gilmore Girls was in Fergie’s video.
EVA MENDES: ‘MIAMI’ BY WILL SMITH
Will Smith was huge in the ’90s. Well, he’s still a mainstream actor and TV personality but the ’90s is when he cast his spell on everyone. In 1997, he released his song “Miami,” which was just as much fun as his roles were. The song was about Miami, Florida and his love for the bright city.
In the video, we can see two attractive women driving a convertible, singing the lyrics to Will’s song. And funny enough, the driver was actress Eva Mendes! Fast forward to 2005 and the two team up again for the movie Hitch.
COURTENEY COX: ‘DANCING IN THE DARK’ BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Long before actress Courteney Cox got her start on Friends, she was in Bruce Springsteen’s music video for “Dancing in the Dark”! In the video, we can see a young Cox dancing and singing to Bruce’s song at a concert.
He sees her in the crowd and pulls her up on stage where she dances and dances alongside the legend himself. With short hair and big eyes, fans can see Courteney’s star rising to the top after she became known as “that girl in Bruce Springsteen’s music video.”
NOAH SCHNAPP: ‘LA DEVOTEE’ BY PANIC! AT THE DISCO
You better believe Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp was in a music video! Back in 2015—a year before Stranger Things hit Netflix—Noah starred in Panic! At the Disco’s music video for “La Devotee.”
The video is pretty creepy, with Noah’s character being tied to a chair while voicing the lyrics to the song. As per usual, though, Noah’s talent for acting is second to none. He’s a talented young boy.
