When IS Beyonce Returning To Acting?

When were whispers that Bradley Cooper would be directing a remake of A Star Is Born , all signs pointed to one star as the lead: Beyonce. Allegedly Beyonce had been attached to the project back in 2011 when Clint Eastwood was slated to direct, but with her pregnancy and Eastwood adopting Jersey Boys, the project staggered. In any case, it seems that with this recent resurrection Beyonce is not currently attached to A Star Is Born, which makes us wonder... will she ever return to acting? Let's take a step back and see what we can figure out.

First of all, let's tentatively note that acting is seemingly a side gig for Beyonce. She first made her theatrical film debut in 2002 with the role of Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember, which was delightful and fun. She starred in five more roles over the next seven years, including a pit-stop in the star-studded Dream Girls and abruptly stopped with 2009's obsessed. And though she lent her voice to 2013's Epic, that would certainly imply that Beyonce's last acting role was easily six years ago. There's no doubt she has an ability to entertain, and I won't even deny her ability to act (she totally nails Bettie Page in the "Why Don't You Love Me" video), but film is seemingly not her priority.

Why, though? Well, music is sort of her main vehicle for world domination. Consider the following: Obsessed has a 19% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and though I'm sure she doesn't lose sleep about it, Beyonce doesn't need that kind of mark on her resume. Following that film, she released 4 to remind everyone who runs the world (girls... and Beyonce). Then she got pregnant with Blue Ivy, embraced her new role as a mother, and emerged out of nowhere with her stunning surprise visual album, Beyonce in late 2013. She and Jay-Z teamed up for a stellar couple tour and then had it broadcasted on HBO. A 19% critics rating will not scar Beyonce... but why even bother placing her efforts their when she's capable of putting them where it counts.

Now here's where our story gets weird. Suspicions started rising again earlier this week when it was reported Beyonce was taking acting lessons. Say what? I'm not going to argue whether or not Beyonce really needs acting lessons (touchy subject) but it would definitely imply that she's ready to jump back into theaters and maybe snag an Oscar for funzies. The initial report, however, is ridden with anonymous sources, so that's reason to side-eye.

Which brings us back to A Star Is Born. I want to note real quick that all we're being told is that Beyonce being signed onto the project is, as Cooper told E! news, "Just a rumor." Yet he also followed up with, "But with that said, I would be honored obviously with to work with her in any capacity." Let's not count the possibility out yet. I don't think it's implausible that she could still jump in.

However, my verdict is that Beyonce's otherwise in no rush to return to the movies... or at least hasn't been for a while, which would make an abrupt comeback out of the ordinary. And while I have faith that she could make her star shine on any stage or screen, I don't think she particularly needs to go back to acting unless she really wants to. After all, she's plenty busy being Beyonce.

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