This article contains mentions of suicide.
Taylor Swift is the biggest pop star in the world, but she's also dipped her toes into acting. Swift is a prolific songwriter with 12 Grammys, always pushing herself to switch genres and work with new songwriters. She never does the same thing twice, so it makes sense that pretty early into her career, she booked a few acting gigs. Appearing in films alongside pros like Julia Roberts, Betty White, and John David Washington, Swift proved even when she's just making a short cameo, she's an essential part of every movie and TV show she's been in.
Of course, the pop star is better equipped as a singer-songwriter than an actress, but it's evident she's put her heart into every one of her performances, whether on stage or on screen. Taylor Swift hasn't reached A-List stardom in of acting, and not all her films have been a success just because her name was attached to them. Like all actors, the singer has had some hits and some misses, but she hasn't quit yet. From her first role to her 2021 short film, Swift has had a relatively impressive range of acting roles.
9 The Giver
The Giver is one of the most well-known and celebrated young adult novels, but the film was considered a box office flop. Taylor Swift played Rosemary, the Giver's daughter, who is so overwhelmed by the memories given to her that she asks to be released from the training and later kills herself. At the time of filming, Swift was only 24 years old and shot her scenes in the month she had off from her international Red Tour. Swift's youth came across in the film, and Rosemary was a heavy role for a non-actress. While she nailed her piano scenes, Swift's acting chops fell flat, especially among her seasoned costars.
8 New Girl
Taylor Swift had an adorable cameo at the end of the New Girl season 2, episode 25, "Elaine's Big Day". The singer-songwriter wrote about barging in on a wedding and running away with the groom in her 2010 song "Speak Now," but in New Girl, she brought this story to life. Swift played Elaine, the woman that Shivrang (Satya Bhabha) runs off with after Cece (Hannah Simone) calls off their marriage in the middle of the ceremony. Swift's acting isn't astounding, but it didn't need to be for her quick cameo. Her scene was cute, quick, and to the point, but she had better performances later in her career.
7 Cats
Cats, based on the 1982 Broadway musical, was met with a lot of mixed opinions from its confused viewers upon release. It seemed even Taylor Swift and the rest of the cast knew it was a gamble putting the film out. Unfortunately for Swifties, the singer-songwriter didn't appear in much of the experimental movie musical. Swift acted as Bombalurina and showed up for the musical number "Macavity," as well as a quick scene later on.
However, as odd as the CGI movie was, Swift was very much in her element as she's never hidden her love and ion for cats. It also helped that her one big scene was a musical number since she's a musical artist first. While it wasn't her best work and the film certainly wasn't a box office hit, Swift penned the beautiful ballad "Beautiful Ghosts" and earned herself a Golden Globe nomination.
6 Hannah Montana: The Movie
When Taylor Swift starred in 2009's Hannah Montana: The Movie, she had just stepped into the spotlight as a country-pop crossover act. Her second album Fearless was making waves in the country scene and crossing over into the pop world as well. With just her acoustic guitar, Swift stepped onto the Crowley Corners stage to perform her song "Crazier" while Miley Cyrus' character danced with Travis (Lucas Till) and her father Billy Ray Cyrus' character danced with his love interest in the film, Lorlei (Melora Hardin.)
A lesser-known fact is Swift also penned the song's closing track, "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home," with Boys Like Girls frontman Martin Johnson. However, Swift didn't perform the song in the film as Hannah Montana sang it instead. Swift's performance in the Disney film was adorable and show off her teenage innocence during the Fearless era, though it would've been nice if she had a more significant role
5 Amsterdam
The controversy and allegations surrounding director David O. Russell seemed to overshadow Amsterdam, and although she had a role, Swift barely spoke about being in the movie at all. A portion of Swifties even boycotted going to see the film due to the director's past. However, Taylor Swift's role in Amsterdam was definitely one of her strongest. Like her other roles, her appearance in the film was brief but full of comedy.
Swift portrays Liz Meekins, the daughter of a senator whose death kicks off the events of the film. Right as Swift's character is frantically trying to reveal some major clues to Harold (John David Washington) and Burt (Christian Bale), she's pushed into the street and run over by a car. Swift didn't get much time to prove herself in Amsterdam, but her short cameo was quite enjoyable, and her line delivery improved from some of the movies she did when she was younger.
4 CSI
CSI was one of Taylor Swift's first acting roles. Back in 2009, it was common for up-and-coming stars to cameo in the crime series. Swift appeared as Haley, using her charm and innocence to draw the audience in. Her ever-changing character went from young and sweet to dangerous and edgy fast, and just like she's moved smoothly between music genres, she was able to switch between personas nearly as effortlessly. The singer struggled in some more serious scenes but nailed the argument with her mother, leading to her death. Swift's line delivery wasn't perfect, and it was clear she was no professional actor, but she certainly pulled the role off.
3 Valentine's Day
Another one of Taylor Swift's lighthearted acting gigs was in Garry Marshall's 2010 ensemble rom-com Valentine's Day. Swift played Felicia, the quirky girlfriend of Willy (Taylor Lautner). The performance is one of Swift's most memorable because of her comedic timing, especially when she tells Willy to "Walk it off baby, just walk it off" after he stumbles over an obstacle while running. At only 20 years old, Swift had a long way to go, and her acting would improve in the coming years, but she was a delight to watch and an irreplaceable addition to the film, especially because she was just gaining notoriety in Hollywood at the time.
2 The Lorax
There could not have been a more perfect fit for Audrey in The Lorax than Taylor Swift. Acting alongside Ted (Zac Efron), Swift conveyed Audrey's enthusiasm for life and blind optimism better than any young celebrity could have at the time. Swift has experience in the recording booth, so she seemed comfortable voicing Audrey, and since The Lorax is a much lighter film than some of her other ventures, it was easier for her to take on the role. The Lorax was a box-office success, and the self-proclaimed hopeless romantic was able to contribute to the film's love story by reciprocating Ted's feelings at the end of the film.
1 All Too Well: The Short Film
While Taylor Swift has dipped her toes into other industries, her genius remains in songwriting. Swift is a storyteller at her core, and so taking charge of her own short film and playing the character that she created from her experience as a young woman was where she shone brightest as an actress. Swift only appears at the end of All Too Well: The Short Film, taking over from Sadie Sink who acted as her younger self. When it was Swift's turn to take the stage, however, she did it effortlessly.
The pain Swift wrote about years earlier was still evident in her eyes as she read her lyrics to the audience, connecting with the young girls at the bookshop the same way she connects with 70,000 people each night on her Eras Tour. Swift's raw emotion and ability to convey the pain from her youth as a woman in her 30s is what's helped fans resonate with her art for 17 years. People will show up in theaters to the pop superstar no matter what movie she signs onto, but All Too Well: The Short Film is the one most special to Swifties because of their connection to the song and Taylor Swift's graceful performance.
