10 Ariana Grande Acting Roles That Show Her Range Beyond Music

10 Ariana Grande Acting Roles That Show Her Range Beyond Music

Most people know Ariana Grande for her chart-topping hits and powerhouse vocals, but she has quietly built an impressive acting career too.

From Nickelodeon sitcoms to major Hollywood films, she has tackled comedy, drama, animation, and live musical theater.

Her performances prove that she is far more than just a pop star.

Whether you grew up watching her on TV or discovered her through the big screen, her acting journey is genuinely worth exploring.

1. Cat Valentine in Victorious (2010–2013)

Before the platinum records and sold-out arenas, there was Cat Valentine — the sweet, spacey, endlessly lovable student at Hollywood Arts Performing School.

Ariana Grande brought this character to life on Nickelodeon’s Victorious starting in 2010, and audiences immediately fell in love with her quirky charm.

Cat’s humor came from her innocent, almost childlike way of seeing the world, and Grande nailed every punchline without making the character feel mean-spirited.

The role helped launch her into mainstream pop culture.

Without Cat Valentine, the Ariana Grande we know today might have taken a very different path.

2. Cat Valentine in Sam & Cat (2013–2014)

Fans were thrilled when Cat Valentine returned for her very own spin-off series alongside Jennette McCurdy’s Sam Puckett.

Sam & Cat followed two very different roommates who start a babysitting business together, and the odd-couple dynamic made for genuinely funny television.

Grande leaned even harder into Cat’s wide-eyed humor here, delivering some of her most memorable comedic moments across the show’s single season.

The chemistry between the two leads felt natural and warm.

Though the series ended after one season, it remains a fan favorite and a strong showcase of Grande’s ability to anchor a comedy.

3. Amanda Benson in Swindle (2013)

Swindle gave Ariana Grande an early chance to step outside the Cat Valentine box and try something a little different.

She plays Amanda Benson, a spirited cheerleader who teams up with a group of determined kids on a mission to recover a stolen rare baseball card from a shady dealer.

The Nickelodeon TV movie is fun and fast-paced, and Grande fits naturally into the ensemble cast.

Her comedic timing feels sharp and confident, even in a supporting role.

It is a small but telling performance that hints at the versatility she would continue to develop throughout her career.

4. Laura in Underdogs (2013)

Voice acting is a skill all its own, and Grande proved she had it with her work in the English-language dub of Underdogs, an animated Argentinian sports comedy.

She voices Laura, a character central to a story about magical foosball figures that come to life to help a shy young man find his courage.

Without the benefit of facial expressions or physical movement, Grande had to carry emotion entirely through her voice — and she pulled it off with warmth and energy.

The film is lighthearted and fun, making it a great early example of her range beyond live-action performance.

5. Chanel #2 in Scream Queens (2015)

Ryan Murphy’s horror-comedy Scream Queens was sharp, stylish, and delightfully unhinged — and Ariana Grande matched that energy perfectly as Chanel #2.

The character is one of the Chanel sorority members, a fashion-obsessed mean girl with a hilariously dramatic attitude.

Her screen time was brief but memorable, and she made the most of every moment.

One particularly iconic scene, where her character texts during a life-or-death situation, became one of the show’s most talked-about moments.

Grande played the comedy completely straight, which made it even funnier.

The role showed she could hold her own in a star-packed ensemble cast.

6. Penny Pingleton in Hairspray Live! (2016)

Live musical television is genuinely nerve-wracking — there are no second takes, no editing tricks, just raw performance in front of millions.

Ariana Grande stepped into that pressure beautifully as Penny Pingleton in NBC’s Hairspray Live!, playing Tracy Turnblad’s shy but fiercely loyal best friend.

Her vocals were stunning, of course, but what stood out was her physical comedy and emotional sincerity.

Penny’s transformation from timid rule-follower to bold, loving friend gave Grande real dramatic material to work with.

The broadcast earned strong reviews, and many critics specifically praised her performance as one of the highlights of the entire event.

7. Host/Performer in Saturday Night Live (2016, 2024)

Hosting Saturday Night Live is a rite of passage for entertainers, and Ariana Grande has done it twice — once in 2016 and again in 2024.

Both appearances showed a side of her that casual fans rarely get to see: quick-witted, self-aware, and genuinely funny.

Her celebrity impressions are a standout highlight, particularly her spot-on takes on Celine Dion and Jennifer Lawrence.

SNL demands improvisation, sharp timing, and the confidence to be silly in front of a live audience.

Grande delivered on all counts.

Her 2024 appearance, coming fresh off the Wicked press tour, earned especially enthusiastic reviews from critics and longtime fans.

8. Piccola Grande in Kidding (2020)

Few guest appearances are as wonderfully strange as Ariana Grande’s turn as the Pickle Fairy in Showtime’s Kidding.

The Jim Carrey dramedy is already a surreal, emotionally layered show, and Grande fit right into its dreamlike world with theatrical flair.

Her character performs a full musical number that feels part Broadway, part fever dream — and she commits to every second of it.

The performance draws directly from her stage background, proving she can blend physical comedy, vocal performance, and pure theatrical energy into something memorable.

It is a short but genuinely impressive appearance that rewards viewers who seek it out.

9. Riley Bina in Don’t Look Up (2021)

Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up packed its cast with A-list talent, and Ariana Grande more than held her own as Riley Bina, a fictional pop superstar navigating fame during a global crisis.

The satirical disaster film uses celebrity culture as a mirror for how society ignores real threats, and Riley Bina is a sharp, funny piece of that puzzle.

Grande performs the viral anthem “Just Look Up” in one of the film’s most talked-about sequences, blending her real-world pop star persona with sharp self-aware comedy.

The performance felt effortless, which is often the sign of an actor who really understands their character.

10. Glinda in Wicked (2024)

Wicked has been one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals for decades, so stepping into the role of Glinda the Good carries enormous expectation.

Ariana Grande met that challenge head-on, delivering a performance that earned widespread critical praise and award nominations across the board.

She brought warmth, humor, and surprising emotional depth to a character that could easily have been played as one-note.

The film became a cultural event, and Grande’s portrayal was central to its success.

For many viewers, it was the moment they fully understood just how far her talents stretch beyond music.

This is, without question, her most defining acting achievement to date.