Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson is an actor, born 1982.
Before her name was on a record sleeve it was in the small print of other people's. Hilson grew up in Decatur, Georgia, signed to the girl group D'Signe at fourteen, and when that project ended without a release she moved into songwriting instead, working under the producer Anthony Dent from 2002 and singing backing vocals while she studied at Oxford College of Emory University. Material she contributed to went to Britney Spears, Usher, Ciara, The Pussycat Dolls and Mary J. Blige, and in 2004 she joined the writing and production team the Clutch.
The acting has been a sideline rather than a second career, and the credits are honest about that. She played Heather in the ensemble comedy Think Like a Man, a prisoner in the third Riddick film, and Jasmine in the family Christmas picture Almost Christmas, alongside talk-show appearances as herself. None of them ask her to do much more than be recognisable and comfortable on camera, and she is both.
For a page about a singer that is the useful framing: the screen work is where a pop career overflows, not where it lives.
Movies (4)
TV (1)
Music (1)
Where to start with Keri Hilson
Her screen work fits into an afternoon, so take it in order of how much each film gives her to do. Think Like a Man is the one with a real part in it, a romantic comedy ensemble where she gets scenes rather than a cameo, and it is easily the best use of her.
Almost Christmas is the family-holiday version of the same energy, broader and softer, and worth it if you like a December ensemble. Riddick is a curiosity, a small role in a hard science fiction sequel with no relation to the rest of her work, and she is perfectly good in it. Steve is the talk-show entry, which is where to go for Hilson as herself rather than as a character. The records are the main event and all of this is a footnote to them.