There’s no doubt that actors and singers have many similarities, from entertaining people to having millions of fans. While some have dedicated their careers to either/or, many talented men and women have opted to test their luck both onscreen and onstage.
Billboard has put together a list of 10 Latin stars who kicked off their profession as actors and ultimately launched a music career. From Carolina Gaitan to Danna Paola to Tini, and beyond, check out the list below.
CAROLINA GAITAN
Colombian actress Carolina Gaitan, also known as “La Gaita,” is known for her roles in Narcos, Celia and Sin Senos Si Hay Paraiso. She’s currently making the rounds with her single “Cerquita del Mar,” a bolero/bachata-infused pop song.
CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ
Christian Chavez rose to stardom in early 2000s teen telenovelas such as Clase 406 and Rebelde before launching his music career. Recently, the Mexican star dropped his new single “Celos,” a catchy retro synth-pop track.
DANNA PAOLA
Danna Paola kicked off her career at a very young age. As a child TV star, she gained popularity in shows such as Rayito de Luz, María Belén and Mi Globo Azul. Now, she’s one of Mexico’s most popular pop stars, known for singles such as “No Bailes Sola” and “Mala Fama.”
GREEICY
Before becoming one of Latin music’s hottest stars, Greeicy first gained success for her acting career in Colombian telenovelas such as Primera Dama, La Prepago and Chica Vampiro. In 2016, she officially resumed her musical career, releasing infectious songs such as “Amantes,” Destino” and “Los Consejos.”
ISABELA MERCED
After establishing herself as a Hollywood actress, in films such as Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Isabela Merced kicked off her music career in 2019.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
After being a Fly Girl on In Living Color, Jennifer Lopez officially made her acting debut in the 1997 Selena biopic. A couple of years later, she launched her music career with her studio album On the 6, which helped propel the Latin pop scene in the mainstream. The rest is history.
LALI
In 2003, Lali Esposito joined the cast of children’s telenovela Rincón de Luz. She then had supporting roles in teen novelas such as Chiquititas and Floricienta, and the main role in Casi Ángeles, before becoming one of Argentina’s biggest pop stars.
LENNY DE LA ROSA
You might recognize Lenny de la Rosa from his appearance in Triunfo del Amor alongside William Levy and Maite Perroni. Prior to his acting career, the Cuban artist was part of Gloria Trevi’s choir. Now he’s making the rounds with his singles “Brujería” and “Te Borré.”
MAITE PERRONI
Like most of her Rebelde co-stars, Mexican actress Maite Perroni has led a musical career parallel to her acting one. In addition to many lead roles on popular telenovelas and series, Perroni has collaborated with artists such as Reykon, Cali & El Dandee and more.
TINI
The Argentinian pop star rose to success after portraying the lead role of Violetta Castillo in the Disney Channel Latin America original telenovela Violetta. In 2016, she dropped her self-titled debut album and released her sophomore album Quiero Volver in 2018.
