There’s a thrilling delight in witnessing actors unleash their vocal talents on screen, be it in a captivating film or an addictive TV show. The excitement amplifies when these actors surprise us with their hidden musical prowess. It’s a testament to their unwavering commitment to their craft, earning them a well-deserved admiration from viewers.
Famous faces aren’t afraid to venture beyond their comfort zones and embark on audacious journeys in their acting endeavors. Their tales from behind the scenes offer a glimpse into their unwavering passion and the exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions that accompanies their foray into the world of singing.
1. Jack Black Said His First Attempt At Singing ‘Let’s Get It On’ In ‘High Fidelity’ ‘Sucked’
High Fidelity proved to be a significant movie for Jack Black, who played the character of Barry Judd, a music-savvy employee at a record store. In the final scene, Judd surprises everyone with his dedication and talent when his band performs Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On.”
Initially, another Gaye song was suggested for the scene, but Black insisted on performing a big hit like “Let’s Get it On.” Some people doubted whether he could handle the challenging song, but Black was determined to give it a shot. This was his breakthrough role, and he had previous singing experience as part of his band, Tenacious D. Black recalls his mindset at the time:
“I was like, ‘I think I can handle it.’ And when it came time to sing and do the scene, I did it. The first take was a bit nerve-wracking… I was cautious, and it definitely sucked.”
After the first take, the director, Stephen Frears, called everyone on set except for Black. He didn’t say anything to him directly. Instead, he rallied the extras, instructing them to bring energy and excitement for the finale of the film.
Black thought to himself, “Oh man, he’s yelling at everyone else, but I think he meant to be yelling at me.” However, Frears didn’t actually yell at him. Whatever the intent was, it gave Black an incredible rush of adrenaline. In the second take, he came out swinging, and that’s the take they ended up using in the movie.
2. Steve Martin Insisted On Playing His Dentist In ‘Little Shop’ Like Elvis
Rick Moranis may be the main star of Little Shop of Horrors, but there are moments when Steve Martin, playing the villainous Orin Scrivello, threatens to steal the show. Scrivello’s 1950s vibe, complete with a leather jacket and a motorcycle, brings to mind the greasers of that era. Back then, the most famous greaser in pop culture was Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli from Happy Days.
Frank Oz, the director of Little Shop, recalls that Steve Martin had one specific request when he accepted the role of Scrivello. Oz remembers, “At the time, there were still traces of Fonzie from Happy Days in the script. And I remember Steve saying, ‘Look, I just don’t want to do Fonzie.’ And I said, ‘No problem. You do whatever you want.’ Steve’s a genius.”
Instead of portraying Fonzie, Martin decided to base his version of the mad dentist on Elvis Presley. Oz explains, “The character was always this sadistic dentist who rode a motorcycle and wore black leather. That’s not original Steve Martin… What’s original Steve is the addition of the Elvis stuff.”
3. Rick Moranis Had To Sing In Slow Motion While Filming ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Little Shop of Horrors is a truly campy musical from the 1980s, and that’s what gives it its timeless charm. The story itself, about a florist who unknowingly adopts a man-eating plant, is undeniably silly. However, it’s the wonderful cast and lively music that bring it all together. Rick Moranis is absolutely perfect in the role of Seymour Krelborn.
The plant, known as Audrey II, was a marvel of engineering, but it did come with its fair share of challenges. Moranis had to adjust his acting style to synchronize with the movements of his puppet co-star. In an interview, he mentioned:
“It took 55 puppeteers working together to bring the final version of the plant to life. To achieve this, we had to slow down the music by a third. And when I was on camera with the plant, I also had to slow down my lip-syncing and movements by a third.”
Overall, the efforts put into creating Audrey II were truly impressive, and Moranis did a fantastic job adapting to the unique demands of working with a puppet.
4. Jason Sudeikis Had To Cajole Hannah Waddingham Into Singing ‘Let It Go’ In ‘Ted Lasso’
Apple TV’s Ted Lasso has been a refreshing and uplifting show that has resonated with many people. It has provided a much-needed escape from the weariness and cynicism of the world. While the series primarily focuses on the journey of its main character, Ted, the supporting cast has also been exceptional, including the outstanding performance by Hannah Waddingtham as Rebecca, who starts off as Ted’s adversary but becomes a friend.
Apart from her compelling storylines, Rebecca also showcases her incredible singing talent. One memorable moment was her breathtaking rendition of “Let It Go” from Frozen. However, it wasn’t an easy decision for Waddingtham to perform the song on the show. She explained how she initially hesitated:
“I had avoided singing this song since it came out because it’s a challenging one. I expressed my concerns to Jason, and he responded by saying, ‘Alright, find me a better song that suits your character.’ Determined, I accepted the challenge and said, ‘Fine, I will!’ Little did I know, he had chosen the perfect song all along. I had no choice but to face it head-on and give it my all.”
5. Pierce Brosnan Considered Singing In ‘Mamma Mia’ A ‘Mildly Terrifying’ Experience
Pierce Brosnan, famous for his portrayal of James Bond, also had a memorable role in the film Mamma Mia! He played Sam Carmichael, one of the potential fathers of Sophie.
While it would have been easy for Brosnan to not sing himself, he, along with his male co-stars, put in the effort. However, it’s not surprising that he was quite scared. In his own words to GQ:
“It was terrifying having to do these songs. And, you know, ‘SOS’ is such a well-known song. On the day of recording at Air Studios, what gave me some comfort was seeing Stellan and Colin looking just as scared as I was. We were all terrified of having to sing.”
6. Meryl Streep Immediately Fell In Love With Her Song In ‘Only Murders in the Building’
Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building keeps getting better with each season. The show revolves around Charles, Oscar, and Mabel, who work together to uncover various crimes. The third season has been particularly successful, thanks in part to the addition of the talented Meryl Streep to the cast. Streep’s performance in a memorable moment of the season involves her delivering a heartfelt lullaby called “Look for the Light,” captivating both the audience and the characters.
It’s worth noting that Streep is no stranger to singing, having appeared in several musical films. When showrunner John Hoffman played the song for her, she immediately became a fan. Hoffman recalls the moment, saying, “I’ll never forget playing her Sara Bareilles singing that song, with Justin Paul and Benj Pasek having just composed it. My favorite moment was she was listening, and Sara’s just weaving this beautiful melody and the lyrics together and then she hits this line ‘My love is a lighthouse. So darling, my darling, look for the light.’ I watch Meryl just go ‘Oh’ and she left the screen and I thought ‘Ok, we’re in a good place here.'”
7. Gerard Butler Wasn’t Sure He Could Pull Off ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Until He Talked To A Professor Of Music
Gerard Butler, known for his action roles, gained fame for his portrayal of Leonidas in the movie 300. However, before his epic battle against the Persians, he took on the title character in Joel Schumacher’s film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.
Initially unsure if he could handle a singing role of this magnitude, Butler’s doubts were put to rest after meeting his music instructor:
“When I had my first ever singing lesson, I sang to the professor of music from the Royal Academy of Music in London. I asked her straight up, ‘Am I wasting my time? I don’t want to embarrass myself.’ After we finished, she assured me, ‘You can absolutely do this. It will require hard work and learning the rules, but you have what it takes.’ That’s all I needed to hear.”
With the encouragement from his music instructor, Butler embraced the challenge and went on to impress audiences with his singing skills in The Phantom of the Opera.
8. Ryan Gosling Had To Make Peace With His Mickey Mouse Club Past To Perform In ‘Barbie’
Ryan Gosling delivers a powerful performance in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, taking on the role of a blonde and ripped version of Ken. Like other Kens, Gosling’s character grapples with finding his place in Barbieland. He truly shines in this role, even showcasing his singing talents by performing Matchbox Twenty’s “Push” and his own hit, “I’m Just Ken.”
To prepare for the role, Gosling tapped into his past, specifically his time on The New Mickey Mouse Club. Reflecting on this experience, Gosling expressed the challenges he faced in an interview:
“There came a point where I thought I had moved on from that young kid, but I realized I needed his guidance for this movie. So, I had to reconnect with him, make peace, and ask for his assistance. It was a valuable journey for me.”
9. Tom Hiddleston Said That ‘Lovesick Blues’ Was The Hardest Song For Him To Do In ‘I Saw the Light’
Tom Hiddleston’s performance in I Saw the Light, where he portrays country music legend Hank Williams, is truly inspiring. One of the toughest songs for Hiddleston to master was “Lovesick Blues.” In an interview, he shared his thoughts on the difficulty of this particular song:
“Of all the songs Hank sang, ‘Lovesick Blues’ was probably the most challenging. It was a huge hit for him, and he sang it a lot. The yodeling and octave jumps in the song made it really tough to hit every note perfectly. There were days when I felt like I was banging my head against a wall. Rodney Crowell and I did multiple takes, trying to get the rhythm and pitch just right. Sometimes, when the rhythm was precise, the pitch would be off. And when the pitch and rhythm were on point, I would be told that I had lost the sincerity and twinkle in my performance. It was a constant struggle to balance all these elements. So, yes, ‘Lovesick Blues’ was definitely the most challenging song for me.”
10. Kate Winslet Thought It Would Be Fun To Sing In ‘Christmas Carol: The Movie’
Kate Winslet is widely respected as an exceptional actress in her generation. Her diverse range of roles in movies like Titanic, Mare of Easttown, and Heavenly Creatures highlight her incredible talent, which is why she has earned numerous awards, including an Oscar. One of her lesser-known but notable performances is in Christmas Carol: The Movie, where she portrays Belle, Ebenezer Scrooge’s former love interest.
In this film, Winslet even sings a song called “What If,” a poignant and melancholic piece. Regarding her decision to provide her own vocals, Winslet humbly expressed, “I can sing a bit, but I’m not a singer. However, I was willing to give it a try. It sounded like a fun opportunity, and if it turns out to be terrible, I don’t mind. Just find someone else to do it.”
11. The Director Of ‘Les Misérables’ Told Anne Hathaway She Nailed Her Fourth Take – But The Actress Insisted On Filming For Hours
Anne Hathaway is a versatile actress who has proven her talent in a wide range of films, from light-hearted teen romcoms to intense social dramas. She has always excelled in whatever role she takes on, and this includes her impressive performance in the musical film adaptation of Les Misérables, where she portrayed the character of Fantine.
Hathaway’s dedication to her role was evident in her physical transformation and her commitment to her singing. She went above and beyond what was expected of her. Reflecting on the filming of “I Dreamed a Dream,” she shared her experience:
“We did it upwards of 20 times, but it was the fourth take that Tom [Hooper, the director] came up to me and said, ‘You know, I have it. That was the one. I don’t imagine we’re going to do better than that.’ And I, of course, am like, ‘No no no no, we gotta go, we gotta go,’ and ‘I can do it again…’ And I never broke through in the same way again. So, at the end of eight hours of singing the song, we realized we could have finished after the first 20 minutes.”
Hathaway’s commitment to perfection and her willingness to push herself to the limit shines through in her performance. Her dedication to her craft is admirable and truly sets her apart as an actress.
