The Top 10 Best Models Turned Actors

5. James Marsden

Notable Works: X-Men, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Enchanted

Up next on this list of models turned actors is one who always makes the movies he’s in way better. Though he’s been working steadily since the mid-90s, Marsden’s big break came when he played the big-screen mutant, Cyclops, in the X-Men films. However, he really hit his stride when he started taking on more comedic roles. The guy is just really good at playing a loveable goofball and I think that makes his ridiculous looks less intimidating and him just more likable in general. I don’t know what it is, but as bad as some of the movies he’s been in >cough< X-Men: The Last Stand >cough< , I can’t hate them. Because of that, I consider Marsden one of the most reliable models turned actors of all time. He might not win many awards, but Marsden always manages to entertain.  

4. Djimon Hounsou

Notable Works: Gladiator, Blood Diamond, and Constantine

Djimon Hounsou’s name is one that I always love seeing on movie posters. The man has an intensity to him that makes it impossible to look away when he’s on-screen. It’s that intensity that probably nabbed him a job modeling in Paris before he came to America to pursue a career in acting. Since then he’s played every type of character you can imagine and is one of the few actors to appear in both the MCU and DCEU. He’s a personal favorite when it comes to actors working in the industry today (not just models turned actors), and even though he’s starting to get up there in years, he can still light up the silver screen. Then again, good looking guys like Hounsou are like a fine wine and always get better with age. Can’t say that I’m not a little jealous, but I’m still a big fan.  

3. Channing Tatum

Notable Works: Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Lucky Logan

A lot of people know that Channing Tatum was a stripper in Florida before he was discovered by a modeling talent scout. That led to appearances in magazines like Vogue and work in a number of clothing lines, including Emporio Armani, American Eagle, and Dolce & Gabbana. Personally, I think it’s a little funny that he went from taking off clothes for money to wearing them for a living. Tatum didn’t stop there though, and soon he was on the big screen… Taking off his clothes again. Seriously though, Tatum has proven himself the kind of actor who can handle anything thrown at him from action to comedy to romance. My favorite is when he combines all three in action-comedy roles since he’s so good at playing “capable” doofs. This is one pretty boy you don’t want to underestimate, and I hope Hollywood keeps testing him with bigger and better roles.

2. Jason Statham

Notable Works: The Transporter, Crank, and The Expendables

Jason Statham has had a pretty strange life. Before he was an actor, the Englishman was a martial artist, athlete, and an underwear model. Luckily for us, director Guy Richie snatched him up for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking, and since then he’s been making his living on the big screen. Being a former athlete, model, and martial artist, meant that Statham was able to quickly make a name for himself on the big screen thanks to his ridiculous abs and physique. Since his big-screen debut, he’s become one of the biggest action stars in movie history. Statham has helped launch a number of face-punching, high-kicking franchises over the years from The Transporter to The Expendables, and doesn’t look as though he’s going to be slowing down anytime soon.  

1. Mark Wahlberg

Notable Works: Boogie Nights, Pain & Gain, and The Fighter

It’s hard to argue that Mark Wahlberg isn’t the most successful model turned actor of all time. Since giving up his music and modeling career, he’s become a blockbuster juggernaut. That’s probably thanks to the fact that he’s one of the hardest working guys in Hollywood (since 2005 he’s starred in multiple movies yearly). He’s even found himself nominated for an Academy Award a couple of times. That means that Wahlberg has managed to find a nice balance between mindless action films and heartfelt performances. Though he has definitely done some terrible films over the years (The Happening), he’s cleared the red in that ledger with some pretty great ones as well. While Wahlberg might not be my personal favorite on this list of models turned actors, I have to admit that he’s the big dawg, which is why I have to give him the number one spot.

Honorable Mention: Billy Zane

Notable Works: Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight, Titanic, and Zoolander

I don’t think Billy Zane gets enough love for how much he’s done as an actor. Sure he’s made plenty of B-movies and had more direct-to-video flicks than big-screen debuts, but the guy is incredibly charismatic in his roles. That boyish grin and crooner eyes are mesmerizing in a way that makes Zane seem like a work of art without the connotation of fragility. The kind of classic good looks you expect to see walking around in a tailored suit with an arch eyebrowed and lit cigarette. You know, Don Draper handsome without the underlying scumbag vibe. Because of that, I had to give Billy Zane an honorable mention with the rest of these models turned actors.

Those are my picks for the best professionally good-looking guys who made their way to Hollywood. There are a lot of other former models that became actors, so let me know who some of your favorites are in the comments below. As always, I’ll be updating this list of models turned actors as more distinguish themselves on the big-screen. That means you should definitely check back from time to time in order to see how the rankings might change!