It’s hard to imagine the amount of struggles and hardships people have had to undergo in the past in order to gain fame and success withoutthe presence of social media. That’s not to undermine the hard work the new generation of celebrities put into their jobs in any way. It’s simply stating the obvious: that with the access of the internet, social media, and the culture of digital celebrity, it’s lot easier to make your dreams come true with the help of a massive online community or following.
Updated March 29th, 2023: If you’re curious about online influencers who somehow made their way into the acting profession and actually proved themselves as good actors, you’ll be happy to know that this list has been updated with additional content and higher quality.
Many of the social media influencers have taken advantage of this sensation and shot their shot in the film industry. It doesn’t always work in their favor, nor are they exceptionally good at it, but at least they’re laying out their options and expanding the branches of their work. Here are 12 influencers who have tried the acting path.
12Charlie D’Amelio
With her monumental rise to fame and fortune owed to the Chinese social media phenomenon TikTok,Charlie D’Ameliohas become an internet sensation and, one of the most followed users on the platform with a whopping 150 million followers worldwide.
As a result of the night of her social media pull, D’Amelio was given a run in 2020’sStarDog and TurboCat. She has since made a cameo appearance onThe Simpsons, and is set to feature in the upcoming film,Home School.
11Bryce Hall
Somehow, the general population’s brains have become so susceptible to lapses in discernment that lip-syncing is viewed as actual talent.Bryce Hallis an example of such a man who has capitalized on our innate tastelessness, although he has tapped into comedic skits which sometimes bring an odd smile to the face.
Anyhow, he has amassed quite the following on TikTok and on YouTube, and thus, has fashioned a career in filmmaking, with his debut picture starring inHe’s All That, and the forthcoming,Skill House.
10Emily Uribe
Emily Uribe’s story has been slightly less conventional than that of her fellow influencers turned actors. Starting out on TikTok (unsurprisingly), Uribe didn’t rely on cheesy lip-syncs or cringey dances, and instead opted for something entirely unique in the form of impersonation, and more specifically, pretending to interview famous actors.
After her immense likability was duly noted by those in film, Uribe earned herself a screen debut withChicken Girls: College Years.
9Jack Martin
No way…another TikTok star! Content creator,Jack Martinharnessed his penchant for hilarious skit videos on the major social media outlet, after graduating from the University of Georgetown, Martin undertook studies in the cinematic arts, setting him up for a potential career in the industry. After being approached by producers at NBC, the social media guru starred in the sci-fi flop,La Brea.
8King Bach
Andrew Byron Bachelor, better known as King Bach, was once themost followedperson on the now non-existent app called Vine. His humor and six seconds long content helped bring the attention of then 11.3 million people. It was only a matter of time until he would take the opportunity and use his wit to act professionally.
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Although he made his small acting debut in a popular American TV showBlack Jesus(2014), many were surprised to see him there and called his performance corny. But isn’t that exactly what he’s internet-famous for? His later 2016 comedy moviesMeet the BlacksandFifty Shades of Blackhave proved that he never fails to make people laugh. The biggest role of his acting career came with the release of the horror-comedyBabysitter(2017),which has received mixed reviews, and he recently starred inthe unique horror filmFear.
7Noah Beck
In contrast with King Bach,Noah Beckhas risen to fame only recently, after the COVID pandemic had already started. After starting a TikTok account mostly dancing to different songs, it took him only a month to go viral and to gain millions of followers.
Surprisingly, Beck had some small acting roles before he had made a name for himself as a popular TikTok celebrity. Although he started taking acting lessons only in 2021, he had appeared in little-known short comedies such asMeet Nancy Wuin 2017 andBack to the Featurein 2018.
6Liza Koshy
She made her acting debut in 2016 starring inTyler Perry’s filmBoo! A Madea Halloweenand later transported her audience to another world with her performance in a Hulu drama seriesFreakish.She has challenged her skills by producing and starring in a Youtube Premium showLiza on Demandwhere she plays an ambitious funny character identical to herself. What eventually earned her an Emmy nomination was her hosting inDouble Dare.
5Grace Helbig
It was no surprise that her acting debut followed sort of naturally in a movie calledCamp Takota(2014),which she co-produced.For many millennials, this movie had become a significant part of their teens and early 20s thanks to its iconic trio. Two years later, Helbig joined her friends Hannah and Mamrie Hart in a comedyDirty 30where they showcased their quippy personalities. Helbig’s recently voiced Cindy Bear in the animated seriesJellystone.
4Ryan Higa
One could argue that he starred in the first YouTube movie ever made —Ryan and Sean’s Not So Excellent Adventure(2008), playing a YouTuber cast for a movie by a struggling director. Due to his comedic personality, many were shocked to see him star in a horror movieTell Me How I Die(2016). Recently, he has appeared in Netflix’sFinding Ohana(2021).
3Baby Ariel
Ariel Martinrose to mainstream popularity back when TikTok was still known as musical.ly. Her impact on the social platform was so strong that in 2017, she was named as one of the most influential people on the internet by TIME.
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This Florida content creator went on to star and produce her own YouTube series, calledBaby Doll Records(2018).A year later, Nickelodeon announced her role in an upcoming sleuthing comedyBixler High Private Eye. But, her biggest role as yet isher werewolf characterWynter in a Disney movieZombies 2(2019).
