With Dave Bautista making some noise for his turn in the upcoming Knock at the Cabin, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Non-Actors Turned Actors.
Each writer ranks his or her top 15 actors in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. JANELLE MONÁE
Janelle Monáe had already begun making a name for herself in music before beginning to work in films. She may not have A-list status yet, but she seems to be progressing far faster within the film industry than most musicians-turned-actors. She even gave one of the best ever openings for the Oscars back in 2020 with an energetic, musical homage to the biggest films of that year. From a humble start in Rio 2, Monáe has grown substantially, being named on many Best Of 2022 and Oscar prediction lists for her supporting performance in Glass Onion. Her future is bright, her star is steadily rising, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. - Joseph
4. MARK WAHLBERG
The former Marky Mark hopped into the limelight as a rapper (and underwear model) who ultimately proved that he was much more than just a good-looking badass from Boston by jumping into acting. From roles such as Fear, Boogie Nights, The Other Guys, and The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg has established himself as an actor who can succeed in just about any role. With two Oscar nominations (Best Supporting Actor in The Departed and a Best Picture nomination as a producer on The Fighter), he has been able to bring the good vibrations with many powerful and nuanced performances in a variety of genres. - Paige
3. DAVE BAUTISTA
To me, Dave Bautista is one of the industry’s most interesting figures. Coming from the world of professional wrestling, where acting skills are set on the back burner for shiny muscles and flashy moves, it seemed unlikely the 6-foot-4, 289-pound behemoth would be able to make a successful transition to Hollywood. Many have tried, very few have succeeded; however, it's Bautista's passion for the craft that has set him apart from others of his ilk. Eschewing the muscular leading man roles his contemporaries are known for, he has carved out a different lane for himself, choosing instead to build his craft while working with the notable filmmakers of our time. The result has been the blossoming of a talented actor, able to play both external and internal roles with a surprising amount of grace and humility. - Darryl
2. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Here’s the thing about Arnold: He could probably be on this list twice. Not only did he go from being a world-class bodybuilder (Mr. Universe and 7x Mr. Olympia) to one of the biggest, literally and figuratively, action stars of the 80s and 90s (see: Predator, The Terminator, True Lies), but after spending two terms as the governor of California, he returned to acting with several quieter, more nuanced films (see: Maggie, Aftermath). On top of that, he has tremendous comedic ability (see: Kindergarten Cop, Twins). He really can do it all. Lastly, “Arnold” is a fairly basic name, yet he has become so iconic that you don’t even need his last name to know exactly who is being talked about when someone says it. - Quentin
1. WILL SMITH
Is there even a question on who tops this list? C’mon, son! Will Smith is so good that I put my first draft together without him because he consistently makes me forget he ever did anything before acting. I. Forgot. The Fresh Prince. The First-Rap-Grammy-winning, classic-summer-anthem-rapping Fresh Prince. He does it all: Comedy, action, drama, biopics, thrillers… he has top-notch performances in damn near every genre. Plus, he is the perfect happy crying meme because of his role in The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith is an ultimate entertainer, and he packs a mean… well, I’ll just leave it at his greatness. - Amarú
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DWAYNE JOHNSON
JASON STATHAM
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
DAVID BOWIE
ICE CUBE
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Netflix; Photo 2 - Lionsgate; Photo 3 - Disney; Photo 4 - Tri-Star Pictures; Photo 5 - Lionel Hahn/Getty Images