Reality TV Stars Who Transitioned to Acting

From Kim Kardashian to Nene Leakes, see which reality TV stars later tried their hand at acting

While reality TV stars make their bank by being themselves on television, every now and again, opportunities to explore their more artistic sides come to their door and they happily oblige.

From Kim Kardashian's standout role as Siobhan in American Horror Story: Delicate (the part 1 finale airs on Oct. 18!) to Nene Leakes' iconic performance as coach Roz Washington on Glee, see which reality TV stars have tried their hands at acting.

Kim Kardashian

While Kim Kardashian has built an empire being herself on television, her latest endeavor required her to tap into a separate skill set.

Earlier this year, the mom of four announced she would be joining the cast of American Horror Story season 12.

"Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family," series creator Ryan Murphy shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

The reality TV star made her debut on the hit FX show on Sept. 20 and nailed her role as Siobhan, the publicist to actress Anna Victoria Alcott, played by Emma Roberts.

The stint on AHS is hardly Kim's first foray into acting. The SKIMS founder also guest-starred in season 4 of How I Met Your Mother and made a cameo in 2008's Disaster Movie.

Nene Leakes

Nene Leakes is known for her big personality and bluntness, so playing the role of Roz Washington on Glee was a no-brainer. Though her character goes down as one of the most iconic on the show, it seems Leakes almost missed out on the opportunity.

"One day I got all these calls from this guy. He kept on saying 'My name is Ryan Murphy' and I thought, 'I don't know a Ryan Murphy,'" Leakes told Larry King of how she got the role. "He said, 'I'm the creator of Glee', and I thought it was someone playing games on my phone."

Leakes later relayed the incident to her manager, who gave Murphy a call back and later confirmed to the Real Housewives of Atlanta star that it was, in fact, the real TV whiz Ryan Murphy blowing up her phone.

The two would later have a meeting that not only scored Leakes the role of Roz Washington for four seasons on the TV musical, but gave way to her portraying Rock on The New Normal.

Jennifer Hudson

In one of the biggest comeback stories of all time, Jennifer Hudson launched her now-colossal career following a bout on American Idol.

After being eliminated (arguably early) from the singing competition show, the now-EGOT scored a breakout role in Dreamgirls, opposite Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Anika Noni Rose. She would win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Effie White.

Hudson followed up her Oscar win with two Grammy wins, a Tony Award for serving as producer on A Strange Loop and an Emmy for 2020's Baba Yaga.

Julianne Hough

She made her name as one of the pros on Dancing with the Stars, and in 2011, Julianne Hough transferred her famous moves to the big screen when she played Ariel Moore in the remake of Footloose.

Hough later established a solid acting career with roles in Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, Dirty Grandpa and Grease Live!.

Yaya DaCosta

You may recognize her as April Sexton on Chicago Med, but if you were wondering why Yaya DaCosta's face may be so familiar, it's because she competed on cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model.

When America’s Next Top Model cycle 21 alumna Winnie Harlow spoke out in 2018 saying that the reality show didn’t really do much for her modeling career, she faced a lot of backlash. However, DaCosta understood where Harlow was coming from.

“A lot of people supported her and understood and a lot of people didn’t understand where she was coming from,” DaCosta told PEOPLE. “I think that reality TV is successful inherently because it’s based in illusion. And that’s fine — there’s something fun about that. But as long as girls who do that know that’s what it is. If you want to be a reality star, fine. If you want to be a model, get an agent. Do something else. I’ve always wanted to act so I’m just blessed to be where I am."

Outside of playing an emergency room nurse on the hit NBC show, DaCosta also portrayed Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biopic Whitney and had a small role in Lee Daniels' The Butler.

Katharine McPhee

Another American Idol alumna, Katharine McPhee also found success on the silver screen following her stint on season 5 of the show.

She appeared in films such as House Bunny, Peace, Love and Misunderstanding, The Tiger Rising and more.

Lio Tipton

Following their run on America's Next Top Model, Lio Tipton was a standout in films such as Crazy, Stupid, Love, Warm Bodies and Two Night Stand.

"All the roles that I’ve gotten — people don’t know that I’m from [ANTM] until later," Tipton told Complex in 2012. "Mostly I’ve realized that if someone in a room judges the fact that I was on a modeling show, I don’t know if I’d want to work with them anyway. It’s like judging someone’s intelligence or someone’s present life on some past, or lack of past. I think it’s silly."

Tipton added, "Modeling was something I stumbled into; acting was planned out. I actually moved out to L.A. for writing and directing, and I acted all through growing up ... I don’t like modeling. But America's Next Top Model was fun."

In 2021, Tipton revealed they are going by the name Lio, after previously being known as Analeigh.

"Hi. My name is Lio. My pronouns are they/she," Tipton began. "I am proud to announce I am queer and I identify as non binary."

"I hope to give as much love and support back to those who continue to show love and support for the Pride community at large. 🏳️‍🌈❤️ Lio," they concluded.

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