You may have noticed that Carly Rae Jepsen’s video for “I Really Like You” prominently features a certain Oscar winner who shall remain — oh fine, it’s Tom Hanks.
Famous actors have long been known to pop up in unrelated music videos — it must be for the hipness-by-association factor, because, strangely, the dorkiest musician is still usually cooler than the hottest movie star. (See also the related phenomenon of “hot actress dates homely rocker.”)
Read on for some of our favorite examples of celeb-thespians lip-syncing or otherwise acting out in music videos.
Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart and Brie Larson in Jenny Lewis’ ‘Just One of the Guys’ (2014)
Indie songstress Jenny Lewis went a little OTT with the guest stars, scoring Anne Hathaway, K-Stew and Brie Larson. Not only that, they all appear in tracksuited Run-DMC drag.
Jake Gyllenhaal in the Shoes’ ‘Time to Dance’ (2012)
Or is that time to kill? Jake “Mr. Intensity” Gyllenhaal delivers a performance on par with some of his most unhinged film appearances in this extended video for French band the Shoes.
Aubrey Plaza in Father John Misty’s ‘Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings’ (2012)
Aubrey Plaza goes feral and attacks a house of hipsters. Or something.
Ed Helms, Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte in Mumford & Sons’ ‘Hopeless Wanderer’ (2013)
Four American actors portray the British troubadours in a very funny video that sports a frantic banjo hoedown and a heated kiss.
James Van Der Beek in Kesha’s ‘Blow’ (2011)
Kesha sings “No VIP sleaze” — and James van der Beek appears right on cue. Perfect for a video set in a nightclub filled with VIU — Very Important Unicorns.
Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan in Rihanna and Eminem’s ‘Love the Way You Lie (Part 2)’ (2010)
OMG it’s Megan Fox and what’s-his-name from “Lost”! The pair illustrate a relationship from sloppy make-out to abuse, which is more serious acting than Fox has ever been required to do.