2 October 2018
Popstars to watch on Showmax
Famous musicians are just like the rest of us – once in a while they get bored in their careers and their normal famous lives and decide to try something new, like say acting. It doesn’t always work out as we’ve seen from the stream of terrible movies and bad acting from certain musicians who might as well just stick to selling out tour tickets. While the jury is still out on a number of musicians who just can’t seem to replicate their music success into their acting careers, some like Jennifer Hudson – who killed it in Dreamgirls – have made a name for themselves in both worlds. Here are some popstars that you will find on Showmax, trying their luck in various movie and TV roles. Did they nail it? You be the judge.
1. Ed Sheeran: Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is known for stirring things up and shocking fans in a big way, but not quite like it did when it added English megastar Ed Sheeran to its seventh season cameo line-up. No soldier has ever looked as out of place as Sheeran, who played a Lannister soldier, complete with an armour and a red cape. As if GoT was playing some cruel joke on Sheeran’s fans, they placed him on Arya Stark’s path as she headed home after her massacre on House Frey. Aren’t we all glad that Arya’s killer instincts and thirst for revenge didn’t get the better of her, and instead she saw the humanity in these folk-singing Lannister soldiers?
But Ed Sheeran’s brief appearance is not the only cameo on Game of Thrones. For instance, did you know that the role of Melissandre, the Red Woman, is played by Dutch singer Carice Van Houten? Or that members of popular bands Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Of Monsters and Men also make an appearance in previous seasons? Don’t forget to catch Sheeran in Game of Thrones on Showmax.
2. Zendaya: KC Undercover and Euphoria
Zendaya hasn’t released any album since 2013 but the former Disney star is probably too busy owning the red carpets and starring in a series of iconic roles in Hollywood. In 2017, Zendaya joined Marvel Cinematic Universe as Michelle Jones in Spider-Man: Homecoming, putting a fresh spin on Spiderman’s MJ, a role she will reprise in the 2019 sequel Spider-Man: Away From Home. Zendaya also starred alongside Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron in the Oscar-nominated The Greatest Showman, and has appeared in a series of TV shows including Black-ish and kids’ favourite KC Undercover. She also plays the main character in the HBO teen series that’s for adults only, Euphoria, which is now streaming on Showmax.
3. Hilary Duff: Younger | Only on Showmax
It’s hard to remember when you last heard a Hilary Duff song but it must have been somewhere in 2015 when she released her fifth album. Babies born in the late 90s and in the 2000s must think I’m making this up but yes, Hilary Duff was a consistent singer once. Well, life happens and people move on. These days you can find her as the fabulous and smart publishing wunderkind Kelsey Peters in the hit comedy-drama Younger, S1-5 on Showmax. One of her singles – Outlaw – even made it onto Younger’s S1 soundtrack.
Original African stories by local talent
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers. All the episodes are now streaming.
Cheta M
Cheta M explores the love story between Adanna and Nnanna, young lovers who battle the spiritual and political forces in their way. Stream now, with new episodes Wednesday to Friday.
Youngins S1
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins, with three new episodes every week.
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S2 Reunion, now streaming
ENO S2: New daughter, more chaos
The best of West Africa
Get up to date with all the drama on Flawsome S2
From shocking revelations to unexpected turns, the drama continues in season 2 of the Nigerian Showmax Original Flawsome, now streaming on Showmax.
Nigerian Idol S9 to stream on Showmax this April
Season 9 of the popular reality TV singing competition Nigerian Idol will be available to stream from 22 April on Showmax.
Must-watch AMVCA-nominated shows on Showmax
Stream AMVCA-nominated shows including Wura, The Real Housewives of Lagos S2 and more, now streaming on Showmax.
Showmax’s Freemen highlights the origin story of Nnewi’s most successful businessmen
The Showmax Original documentary Freemen highlights how Nnewi breeds successful businessmen like Dr Alex Chika Okafor and Dr Cosmas Maduka. All the episodes for Freemen are available to stream.