Charli XCX is making waves in Hollywood with an impressive slate of nine film roles, signaling a shift from pop star to screen talent. Her recent work blends indie charm with sharp comic timing, earning attention from critics and audiences alike. In her new film, The Moment, Charli delivers one of her most striking performances. A brief cab scene shows her peeling off stick-on gems, her face caught in a raw moment of regret and vulnerability. The mockumentary explores 21st-century pop stardom and imagines what might have happened if her 2024 album Brat had derailed her career. Despite its comedic tone, the film treats Charli’s first leading role with seriousness and nuance. The film premiered at Sundance last month, where Charli promoted it alongside I Want Your Sex, a dark comedy by Gregg Araki, and The Gallerist, starring Natalie Portman. While the latter received lukewarm reviews, I Want Your Sex was mostly praised for Charli’s unconventional performance as a prudish girlfriend involved in a complex affair. Charli has shown consistent skill in smaller roles as well. In Peter Ohs’s Erupcja, she plays the emotionally distant party girl Bethany, a performance noted for its “classical canniness.” She also appears in 100 Nights of Hero, a feminist medieval fantasy, where her character Rosa is charming, innocent, and completely different from her pop persona. Stripped of her signature vampy makeup, Charli delivers a soft, effortless performance, displaying surprising versatility. Her other film projects include roles in Romain Gavras’s Sacrifice, Dakota Johnson’s directorial debut A Tree Is Blue, and upcoming remakes like Faces of Death. Charli’s willingness to take on diverse indie projects reflects her understanding of cinema and careful selection of collaborators, rather than simply leveraging her pop star fame. Unlike some musicians who struggle to translate stage presence to film, Charli’s approach is measured. She often takes supporting roles or cameos, allowing her to explore acting without overextending herself. In The Gallerist, she plays an art influencer’s girlfriend, while in Sacrifice, she portrays Mother Nature in a satirical context. These smaller parts give her room to experiment while maintaining credibility on screen. Charli’s performances are defined by her expressive face and timing. In Benito Skinner’s Overcompensating, she uses subtle eye-rolls and micro-expressions to create humor, even in small, cameo-style appearances. Her natural comic instincts translate well to film, making her presence memorable even in brief scenes. Her love of cinema fuels her craft. Charli’s cinephile credentials are evident on her viral Letterboxd account, where she curates an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary films. She has said in interviews that she prefers projects that originate from her creative instincts and collaborations, rather than outsourcing her choices, demonstrating a thoughtful, auteur-like approach to her career. Many of her roles have come through personal connections in the industry. She met Peter Ohs through a mutual friend, worked with Aidan Zamiri after previous music video collaborations, and connected with Benito Skinner at social events. These relationships have allowed her to select projects that align with her vision and personality. Charli’s next notable project is contributing to the soundtrack of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights. While she does not appear on screen, this move positions her within a high-profile, artistically ambitious film while keeping her image flexible. It highlights her ability to engage with cinema in multiple ways, suggesting that her trajectory in Hollywood may be as carefully curated as her music career. By choosing projects with creative directors, strong storylines, and indie sensibilities, Charli XCX is proving she is more than a pop star. Her growing acting portfolio demonstrates versatility, strategic planning, and a genuine love of film, setting her apart from other musicians trying to break into Hollywood.