Tricia Helfer comes to mind first. In Battlestar galactica. I forget the story but it’s something like she was brought in for her looks(they wanted a knockout for the first scene cylon). Then she went on to blow them away with her acting. She was a model before if I recall.
Eminem in 8 Mile. When I first saw it I was convinced he'd become a superstar actor and stop making music, but that never happened. Even so, he's fucking phenomenal in that movie.
Dominique Tipper in The Expanse (E: yeah, not a movie, but still an awesome experience all around)
I mean, not everyone in the community thinks much of her acting, but on Season 5 she puts out a performance that puts a lot of veteran actors to shame.
Her breakout role was really in The Expanse. Until then she was most known as a dancer and singer, even though she had a few very minor roles in a few films.
Here's another more niche example:
Frank Silva as "Bob" on Twin Peaks. He was a set dresser who worked with David Lynch and Lynch liked his look so much they made the character for him. Now he's regarded as one of the better tv villains.
Tom Waits in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Sure it wasn't his first time acting but I'd argue he's much more well known as a musical artist and his performance was great.
He's also in one or two Jarmusch films. From the 80s or 90s. Too lazy to look it up. Coffee and cigarettes ?
I thought Anthony Edwards did a great job playing the antagonist in Hustle.
Haven't seen it yet but heard Kevin Garnett killed it in Uncut Gems.
Justin Timberlake usually do a really good job, as a lead i.e. In Time, or in a supporting role like in Social Network.
You must watch Uncut Gems. It's a wild ride.
Unless you have problems with anxiety because that is one stressful movie.
I could barely finish Whiplash lol. But I'm always a fan of KG and to a lesser extent Adam Sandler movies, so I'll still give it a shot.
For me it was Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos. His bottom lip is one of the best visual running gags in the series.
