20 reality stars who snagged a role in a feature film

This Real Housewives of Atlanta veteran fulfilled her dreams of becoming a big-time actor after snagging roles in Glee and the Broadway musicals Cinderella and Chicago. In 2019, NeNe Leakes joined the cast of How High 2, starring Little Yachty, and in 2024, she starred in the Lifetime movie Hunting Housewives alongside Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards. 

After becoming a staple in the reality television genre in the early 2000s, Kim Kardashian decided to give acting a try. The multihyphenate starred in Tyler Perry's 2013 project, Temptation, and in 2023, she voiced the role of Delores in PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. 

Kyle has starred on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since Season 1, but before that, she had major roles in Little House on the Prairie and Halloween 1978. She reprised her role as Lindsey Wallace in Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends in 2021 and 2022, respectively. 

Known as Miss USA 1993 and the shade assassin on RHOA, Kenya Moore has appeared in movies since 1995. However, in 2024, she snagged a leading role in the Lifetime flick Abducted Off the Street.

Brandi Glanville is another Beverly Hills cast member who has experienced some success in the scripted world. She had minor roles in The Hungover Games, Sharknado, and Missing at 17. 

This American Idol winner made her film debut in the 2011 feature Soul Surfer as Sarah Hill, a Christian youth leader on the island of Kauai. 

After walking away from the Real Housewives franchise, Cynthia Bailey set out to become an established actor, and she's done exactly that. The supermodel appeared in the 2022 films Cruel Instruction and The Stepmother. In 2024, she joined the cast of BMF, also known as Black Mafia Family, on Starz. 

J Hud may not have won American Idol, but her appearance catapulted her into superstardom. The singer starred in iconic films, including Dreamgirls in 2006, Cats in 2019, and Respect, the Aretha Franklin musical drama in 2021. 

Denise Richards was a big name in the industry well before her time on RHOBH, but since leaving the series, she's starred in the movies Love Accidentally, The Line, and Hunting Housewives. 

Known for her killer face card on America's Next Top Model, Eva Marcille turned her 15 minutes into 15 years, starring in productions like the Real Housewives of Atlanta and movies A Christmas Fumble and A New Diva's Christmas Carol on VH1.

Kandi is another big-time celebrity who joined the Real Housewives to switch up their image. But after 14 years on the air, the reality star stepped away after Season 15 to pursue other projects. She's been in the films Seven Deadly Sins, Whatever It Takes, and The Underdoggs. 

Garcelle is Black Hollywood royalty. Although she's currently capturing the hearts of many on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she's widely known for her roles in Coming to America, Barbershop, and Spider-Man. Like her costars, she couldn't stay away from the Lifetime check and starred in the films Caught in His Web and Black Girl Missing in 2022 and 2023, respectively. 

Kim Richards' (Escape to Witch Mountain and Nanny and the Professor) resume was stacked before she joined the cast of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with her sister in 2010. After leaving the series, she accepted the role of Stephanie in the 2015 feature Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!

Drew Sidora has been stirring up drama on the Real Housewives of Atlanta during the last few seasons, but before that, she was starring in movies like CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story and White Chicks. In 2023, she starred in Kandi Burruss' production, The Pass, which is available to stream on Peacock. 

Yaya is the runner-up of America's Next Top Model Season 3. Since her time on reality TV in 2004, she's taken on other media projects, including starring in the box-office hit Tron: Legacy in 2010. 

Tyra Banks has more on her resume than hosting appointment television shows like America's Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars. The supermodel's latest film was the 2018 TV movie Life-Size 2 — a sequel to 2000's Life-Size  co-starring Lindsay Lohan — in which she reprised her role of Eve, a children's doll that's come to life. 

Tami Roman has done everything from The Real World to Basketball Wives. In addition to reality TV, she's taken on leading roles in films like Girl in the Closet and Whatever It Takes, a BET production that also starred Kandi Burruss and was about a group of four friends navigating their new life during the holiday season. 

The Miz starred in the reality shows Total Divas and Miz & Mrs. from 2016 to 2022. In between that, he took on roles in the direct-to-video franchise, The Marine, as Jake Carter, a former United States Marine working for a private security agency. 

Paris Hilton, known for being the socialite of the 2000s, took a break from starring in reality shows like The Simple Life to play Bella in the 2010 ABC Family movie The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation. She hasn't taken on other scripted roles since this, but she has returned to reality with her Peacock series, Paris In Love. 

Another American Idol star who graced the big screen is 2007 contestant Jordin Sparks. The singer snagged a role in the 2012 film Sparkle as Sparkle Anderson, an ambitious performer motivated to see her name in bright lights.