Footballers who appeared in TV and film like David Beckham and Pele as Jesse Lingard reveals he wants to become an actor
FOOTBALL always has the capability of providing a bit of drama.
That’s why some stars of the beautiful game have swapped their playing careers to appear on the small and big screen.
Jesse Lingard is the latest footballer who has revealed he wants to get into acting when he hangs up his boots.
The ex-Man Utd star outlined his plans on the Diary of a CEO podcast.
“But I need to take drama classes — I’ve not done that yet,” he said after explaining his ambitious step.
“I just love films. I’ve always been a big film lover.
“And to be involved in a film or a series would be amazing.
“I need to really home in on the drama side of things — I’m really bad with lines to be honest.”
He added: “I think I’ll start in comedy first.”
Lingard, 30, would be following in the footsteps of these famous names.
Vinnie Jones
It was British filmmaker Guy Ritchie who saw a future for the ex-Wimbledon hardman in films.
He cast Vinnie, now 58, as ‘Big Chris’ in 90s flick Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, in which he worked as a heavy for ‘Hatchet Harry’.
A role in Snatch as ‘Bullet Tooth Tony’ followed, and he has since appeared in 109 productions, according to IMDB.
He played Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006 alongside Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart.
And he is gearing up to star in The Gentleman – another Guy Ritchie film – that’s been turned into a TV series.
Eric Cantona
Man Utd legend Cantona, 56, is another 90s footballer who caught the acting bug.
He unexpectedly retired in his prime at the age of 30 in his prime to pursue his dream.
The Frenchman scored his first Hollywood role opposite Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth – playing an ambassador, unsurprisingly from France.
He went on to star in plenty of French films, but it was his star turn in indie film Looking for Eric he showed a penchant for humour.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
If ever there was a man built for action movies, it has to be Zlatan.
The 41-year-old has made his film debut in new Netflix film, Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.
Of course he plays a Roman centurion and gets to show off his fighting skills in one scene – flicking up a helmet with his feet, before delivering a devastating uppercut blow to a villain and knocking his opponent off his feet.
Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard also appears, proving Zlatan is in great company.
Ronaldo
You know you’ve made it in life when you appear in The Simpsons.
Brazil legend Ronaldo, 46, played himself in a 2007 episode of the hit American cartoon.
Incredibly, he voiced himself in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.
Amusingly, he turns up at a football match Lisa is playing – labelling “a flopper” after she goes down too easy following a sturdy challenge.
Ally McCoist
Unbeknownst to many, Rangers and talksSPORT legend McCoist, 60, was in a movie opposite Robert Duvall in A Shot at Glory in 2000.
He had to play a fictional legendary ex-Celtic player called Jackie McQuillan, which would have hurt.
However, McCoist confessed he wore a Rangers jersey underneath a Celtic one while filming.
David Beckham
With his movie star looks, it’s no wonder Beckham, 47, made it in the movies.
Pal Guy Ritchie cast him in two of his fillms, as a projectionist in 2014’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and then as Trigger in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword in 2017.
In the latter, he starred with Charlie Hunnam.
Hunnam told Becks on set: “I said ‘listen pal, this is my movie and I want to be the most handsome man on screen!'”
Frank Leboeuf
Ex-Chelsea defender Leboeuf made a bizarre cameo in Oscar-nominated movie The Theory of Everything, based on the life of Stephen Hawking.
The French World Cup winner, 55, popped up as a doctor in one scene, although it wasn’t his acting debut.
Previously he appearedin 2001’s Taking Sides, and has also acted in several theatres as well as World War II film Allies.
“Journalists have asked me what is the common point between football and theatre, but they are completely different. We are both live — that’s it,” he told The Times.
Pele
With his status as the best footballer on the planet in the 1960s and 70s, it was no surprise Hollywood came calling.
The late Pele played the role of Corporal Luis Fernandez, a captured POW during the Second World War in the classic Escape to Victory – with Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone in starring roles too.
The 1981 movie featured several footballers, including Bobby Moore and Ossie Ardiles – who are famously pitted against a German team in an exhibition match for their freedom.
Carlo Ancelotti
It’s a blink and you’ll miss it moment. But, the Real Madrid legend showed off his inner trekkie – appearing in Star Trek Beyond in 2016.
Ancelotti’s brief cameo came at Starbase Yorktown as a doctor, kitted out in a Starfleet outfit as he examined an alien.
Ancelotti, 63, said to Four Four Two: “I am a terrible actor.
“I loved Star Trek as a child, so it is wonderful to be in the film now.”
Chris Kamara
Kamara turned out for Leeds, Bradford and Sheffiled United – so it was only right that he would turn up on Yorkshire’s famous soap.
Kammy, 65, appeared in a small role for an episode that was shown in 2019.
He played a football coach and was labelled a “gobby manager” in a clash with Bear Wolf.
Emmerdale viewers took to Twitter after watching the hilarious cameo.
One fan said: “It’s Chris Kamara the Legend!!!! Unbelievable Jeff!!”