Reality Stars Turned Actresses

Reality TV has a lot of offer those brave enough to allow cameras to follow them around and record their lives 24/7, but sometimes reality stars want to challenge themselves creatively.

At which point, they often times try their hand at legitimate acting roles.

Now, reality TV absolutely challenges the people who commit themselves to it. It’s likely not an easy task having to stay at the top of your game every single second that the cameras are rolling.

This is where taking on an acting role in a scripted series or film can be good for reality TV stars.

It helps give them a better gauge of their talent and skills and helps them decide if they want to keep doing it, or if they’re more comfortable in the lane they started off in.

Below, you’ll find a list if reality TV stars who gave acting a shot. Some of them have stuck with it, and others have moved on.

Scroll down for a List of Reality Stars Turned Actresses

Paris Hilton

Reality Series: The Simple Life (2003–2007), Paris Hilton’s My New BFF (2008–2009)

Notable Acting Role: House of Wax (2005)

Paris Hilton is very well-known for many different things. More commonly, TV viewers will remember her high-profile reality series The Simple Life, in which she and her friend Nicole Richie “struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants, and working as camp counselors.”

However, Hilton also acted in several TV shows and films, probably the most recognizable of which would be 2005s House of Wax. She made such an impression on audiences with that film that she actually won the Teen Choice Award that same year for “Best scream scene of the Year.”

Ultimately, Paris stepped away from both reality TV and acting, as she hasn’t starred in anything since her cameo in 2013’s The Bling Ring.

Julianne Hough

Reality Series: Dancing with the Stars (2007–present)

Notable Acting Role: Footloose (2011)

While she has not appeared in every single season of the show, Julianna Hough has been on Dancing with the Stars off and on for the past decade.

She’s been a part of a total of 12 seasons of the ABC reality competition series as either a dancing partner contestant or a judge.

In 2010, she turned up in a supporting role in the film Burlesque, which starred Cher and Christina Aguilera, but by the next year, she was starring in the big-screen remake of Footloose, which was met with wide critical praise.

Hough continues to take acting opportunities alongside her reality gigs, as just last year she starred opposite Robert De Niro and Zac Efron in Dirty Grandpa.

Kim Kardashian

Reality Series: Keeping Up With The Kardashians (2007–present)

Notable Acting Role: Disaster Movie (2008)

Kim Kardashian is arguably the reason the Kardashian name is as synonymous with reality TV as it is, but that’s not all she’s done. In addition to being a fashion and makeup mogul, Kim also has done some scripted acting.

Back in 2008, she made her feature film acting debut, starring alongside Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, Gary “G Thang” Johnson, Crista Flanagan, Ike Barinholtz, Carmen Electra, and Tony Cox in Disaster Movie.

Unfortunately, Disaster Movie was a critical failure and is actually considered, in some circles, to be one of the worst films of all-time.

Kim headed back to reality TV after that, doing a few small things here and there. In 2013, she had a role in Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, a Tyler Perry film. She’s not entirely abandoning acting though, as she’s rumored to have a cameo in the upcoming Ocean’s Eight film.

Laverne Cox

Reality Series: I Want to Work for Diddy (2008)

Notable Acting Role: Orange is the New Black (2013–present)

Laverne Cox is extremely well-known for her role as Sophia Burset, the transgender inmate on Orange is the New Black.

Her performance on that series has even garnered her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, one is from this year and there’s a chance she could take home the trophy.

What many people don’t realize is that Cox actually popped up on the VH1 reality series I Want to Work for Diddy back in 2008.

She made it six episodes before being cut.

Jennifer Hudson

Reality Series: American Idol (2004)

Notable Acting Role: Dreamgirls (2006)

Jennifer Hudson is a genuine double-threat because she can legitimately sing AND act, and she has a successful career to prove it.

First off, she made it all the way to the top 10 on season three of American Idol, which is impressive considering thousands of people try out for that show.

Next, her feature film debut was as Effie White in Dreamgirls and it was such an incredible breakout performance that she went on to win an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her acting.

That’s not even mentioning the Grammy awards she’s won as well. Hudson has already had quite an impressive run in the Hollywood limelight and she has reality TV to thank for giving her a start.