Popstars to watch on Showmax

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 on Showmax
Image: Entertainment Weekly

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

KC Undercover on Showmax
Image: Disney

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

Younger is only on Showmax
Image: Endemol

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

Original Sin: My Son The Killer on Showmax

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.

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Tracking Thabo Bester on Showmax

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. Two episodes now streaming, and the remaining two episodes land on 22 March 2024 on Showmax.

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The Illuminated S1 on Showmax

The Illuminated

The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.

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Koek S1 on Showmax

Koek S1

The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday.

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Ekhaya Backpackers is on Showmax

Ekhaya Backpackers S1

Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers, with new episodes every Thursday.

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Cheta M on Showmax

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.

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Youngins on Showmax

Youngins S1

Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins, with three new episodes every week. 

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Sadau Sisters is on Showmax

Sadau Sisters S1

Rahma, Zainab, Aisha, and Fatima Sadau pull back the curtain on their family, fame, and lifestyle. Stream now on Showmax.

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The Winning Ticket, a Showmax Original
Youngins S1 episodes 1-20 recap