Top 10 R&B Singers Turned Actors/Actresses

Many actors and actresses have ventured off into the music business to try putting their multi-talents to the test of reaching all around fame. However; many singers have also switched sides to explore their dreams of acting. Below is a list of the top 10 singers turned actors/actresses.

Tyrese: Known for crooning slow jams such as "Sweet Lady" and "Lately", Tyrese got his first acting role in the John Singleton film Baby Boy. While the role was originally designed for Tupac, Tyrese showed and proved that he could play the role and play it well. He was nominated for a Black Reel award for the urban community part he played in Baby Boy. Since then he's went on to be featured in movies such as 2 Fast 2 Furious and the highly talked about Flight of the Phoenix. Now he can be seen in the action thriller Transformers. Watch out for his new flick which is the sequel to Transformers.

Vanessa Williams: The beautiful singer known as Vanessa Williams has been acting just about as long as she's been singing. She's not only a singer and an actress, but she's also the first black Miss America. While having a long list of television appearances under her belt, she's also held numerous feature film roles such as the part she played in Soul Food, which she won a NAACP Image Award. She acts as the main star in the popular TV show known as Ugly Betty. Along with being featured in Dance with Me, she can be found in the independent movie called My Brother, which she won Best Actress at the Harlem International Film Festival. Her most recent project she's working on is the Hannah Montana movie.

Tina Turner: Best known for her hits "Private Dancer" and "What's Love Got to do with It", Tina Turner also did one hell of a acting job in the movie Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, which also featured Mel Gibson. She played Mel's nemesis "Auntie Entity" to the fullest as she demanded respect only as she can do. She also sang over the parts for the "What's Love got to do with It" film which featured the talented Angela Bassett.

Janet Jackson: Being the youngest member of the Jackson dynasty has its advantages as Janet made her music and acting appearances known at an early age. With a long list of television shows such as The Jacksons, Good Times and Diff'rent Strokes, she also has numerous roles in full feature films. The film Poetic Justice involved her playing side by side next to the late Tupac Shakur. Other movies such as Nutty Professor II and Why Did I Get Married, show Janet at her best when it comes to acting. She brings her personality to the big screen with every movie she stars in.

Beyonce Knowles: The former member of Destiny's Child has more than just talent in music when it comes to her persona. With having a long list of hits such as "Irreplacable" and "Crazy in Love", Beyonce also had time to show off her acting talents in such movies like Austin Power: Goldmember and the classic Dreamgirls. With recent talks of joining the Desperate Housewives cast, she also plans to star in the movie called Obessesed starring Idris Elba.

Diana Ross: As a former member of the Supremes, Diana Ross excelled at hitting high notes and making hot appearances in movies. She made her first film debut in the Billie Holiday biographical movies titled Lady Sings the Blues. Some of her best work is the film called The Wiz. Although a lot of critics protest that she was too old to play the role of Dorthy, her appearance supplied the film with the superstar power it needed to be a success.

Aaliyah: Although Aaliyah has passed away, she could be called one of the greatest when it comes to singers transferring into the acting field. The star singer that created "One in a Million" and "Try Again" made her acting debut in the film Romeo Must Die which featured star rapper DMX. She died during the mastering of her last film Queen of the Damned in which she played a female vampire. Before her unexpected death she was expected to star in the Matrix and State Property 2.

Prince: Being a music legend must be a difficult job, however; Prince made it look easy when he starred in the movie Purple Rain. Dramatically based on his life, Price played the role as only he could. In the same year he sung "When Doves Cry", he acted in the Purple Rain movie and also composed the soundtrack to the movie which scaled to number one on Billboard charts.

Whitney Houston: Grammy winning singer, Whitney Houston, has definitely set the standard for what real R&B music should sound like. She was the first black artist that had a constant video on MTV. Her brief television appearances on Gimme a Break and Silver Spoons in 1985 prepared her for major film releases such as The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale and The Preachers Wife which featured Denzel Washington. She exceeded album sells due to her soulful voice on the track titled "I Will Always Love You" which was featured in The Bodyguard.

Alicia Keys: The curvaceous, light skinned Alicia Keys has had her share of fame on the stage and the big screen. Such classic hits like "Fallin" and "A Womans Worth" readied Alicia for the big screen appearances she was made for. She's made a lot of television cameos on shows such as Charmed and American Dreams. She made her first major debut in the film Smoking Aces which also featured rapper Common and Entourage star Jeremy Piven. She currently has upcoming projects in the works with Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson to star in The Secret Lives of Bees.

Honorable mentions: Usher, Christina Milian, Fantasia, Mya