Achieving success as an artist can sometimes be a blessing and a curse because people expect you to stick to the one realm you conquered. The audience does not want you to explore too much and would rather have you be content with one career. Unfortunately, Ariana Grande understands this struggle a little too well.
The global pop sensation first started her career with acting on the small screen, but her voice and talent were such that she became one of the greatest vocalists we know today. Her love for acting hasn’t faded, and she wishes to experiment more with that side of herself, however, one particular thing holds her back.
The Relentless Expectations of Fans: Ariana Grande’s Leap into Acting
In an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ariana Grande spoke about wanting to act more. However, she was hesitant in her words, afraid that she might trigger an unwanted fan response.
I’m very scared to freak my fans out when I talk about this just because music and being on stage will always be part of my life, I will always be there… but I really do love acting. I’d love for that.
Her candid admission came at a time when her movie Wicked is gearing up for release. In this project, Grande seems to have combined both her acting talent and musical gifts and seems to be genuinely excited about how the movie would perform.
However, Grande might not freely explore her acting options because along with genuine excitement, you could see the apprehension. She knows there’s no ill intent behind her fans not wanting her to act because they’d rather have the singer create more albums. However, these expectations can hamper the true calling of an artist, and hold them back from fully exploring the depths of their talent.
The Parallels Between Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga’s Journey
Ariana Grande is not the only artist to have struggled with this dilemma. Lady Gaga once walked the same path, when she tried to branch out into acting. She was always known for her boundary-pushing music, but people ironically wanted her to be limited to only one art form.
Her acting pursuits were initially met with skepticism, but after the release of A Star is Born, the naysayers and harsh critics were all silenced, as she delivered an Oscar-winning performance. Even today, her success is not met with open arms because some fans still see her only as a pop star.
Grande’s acting journey draws parallels to Gaga’s, who was not encouraged to dive headfirst into a new career. But despite what anyone else has labeled them, both these singers have taken on the challenge of doing movies, at the risk of being judged and ridiculed, so, props to them!
