← Back to explore

Beyoncé

Acting

Born September 4, 1981 · Houston, Texas, USA

Also known as Beyoncé Knowles-Carter · Beyoncé Knowles · Destiny's Child

Biography

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (born September 4, 1981), often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American R&B and pop recording artist and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child. Knowles rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. During the hiatus of Destiny's Child, Knowles released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love (2003), which spawned the number one hits "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy" and became one of the most successful albums of that year, earning her a then record-tying five Grammy Awards. Following the group's disbandment in 2005, Knowles released B'Day in 2006. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and included the hits "Déjà Vu", "Irreplaceable" and "Beautiful Liar". Her third solo album I Am... Sasha Fierce, released in November 2008, included the anthemic "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". The album and its singles earned her six Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy Awards won by a female artist in one night. Knowles is one of the most honored artists by the Grammys with 16 awards—13 as a solo artist and three as a member of Destiny's Child. Knowles began her acting career in 2001, appearing in the musical film Carmen: A Hip Hopera. In 2006, she starred in the lead role in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she earned two Golden Globe nominations. Knowles launched her family's fashion line, House of Deréon, in 2004, and has endorsed such brands as Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani and L'Oréal. In 2010, Forbes ranked Knowles at number two on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the world; she was also listed as the most powerful and influential musician in the world. Time also included Knowles on its list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World". Knowles has attained five Hot 100 number one singles as a solo performer and four with Destiny's Child, and as a solo artist, has sold over 35 million albums and singles in the U.S.; according to Sony, her total record sales, when combined with the group, have surpassed 100 million. On December 11, 2009, Billboard listed Knowles as the most successful female artist of the 2000s decade and the top Radio Artist of the decade. In February 2010, the RIAA listed her as the top certified artist of the decade.

Awards & recognition

  • Time 100 · 2023
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2019
  • GLAAD Vanguard Award · 2019
  • Grammy AwardBest Progressive R&B Album · 2019
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Cinematography · 2018
Show all 68 awards →
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Art Direction · 2018
  • American Music AwardTour of the Year · 2017
  • Grammy AwardBest Music Video · 2017
  • Grammy AwardBest Progressive R&B Album · 2017
  • American Music AwardTour of the Year · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardVideo of the Year · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Direction · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Female Video · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Cinematography · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Pop Video · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Long Form Video · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Choreography · 2016
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Editing · 2016
  • Grammy AwardBest Immersive Audio Album · 2015
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Performance · 2015
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Song · 2015
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Editing · 2015
  • American Music AwardFavorite Soul/R&B Album · 2014
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2014
  • Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award · 2014
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Video with a Social Message · 2014
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Cinematography · 2014
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Collaboration · 2014
  • Grammy AwardBest Traditional R&B Performance · 2013
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2012
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Editing · 2012
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2011
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Choreography · 2011
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Song · 2010
  • Grammy AwardBest Contemporary R&B Album · 2010
  • Grammy AwardBest Female Pop Vocal Performance · 2010
  • Grammy AwardBest Traditional R&B Performance · 2010
  • Grammy AwardSong of the Year · 2010
  • Grammy AwardBest Female R&B Vocal Performance · 2010
  • MTV Movie AwardBest Fight · 2010
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2009
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Choreography · 2009
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Editing · 2009
  • MTV Video Music AwardVideo of the Year · 2009
  • American Music Awards · 2007
  • Grammy AwardBest Contemporary R&B Album · 2007
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Collaboration · 2007
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals · 2006
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest R&B Video · 2006
  • Grammy AwardBest Melodic Rap Performance · 2004
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals · 2004
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Song · 2004
  • Grammy AwardBest Contemporary R&B Album · 2004
  • Grammy AwardBest Female R&B Vocal Performance · 2004
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Female Video · 2004
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest R&B Video · 2003
  • MTV Video Music AwardBest Female Video · 2003
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals · 2002
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Song · 2001
  • Grammy AwardBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals · 2001
  • Billboard Millennium Award
  • Academy AwardBest Original Song · 2022 · nominated
  • American Music AwardFavorite Pop/Rock Female Artist · 2007 · nominated
  • American Music AwardTop Soundtrack · 2007 · nominated
  • American Music AwardArtist of the Year · 2006 · nominated
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2004 · nominated
  • American Music AwardFavorite Soul/R&B Album · 2003 · nominated
  • Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist · 2003 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Beyonce: On Top

2018as Self

Moonwalking: The True Story of Michael Jackson - Uncensored

2009as Self

Hollywood Black

2024as Self (archive footage)

Kids' Choice Awards

as Self

Beyoncé: I Am...Yours - An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas

2009as Self

Beyoncé: Live at Roseland - Elements of 4

2011as Self

Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé

2019as Self

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

2006as Shine (voice)

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

as Shine (voice)

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025as Self (archive footage)

Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams

2018as Self

Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream

2013as Self

The Proud Family

2001Theme Song Performance

MTV Video Music Awards

as Self

King Richard

2021Songs

Beyoncé: Live at Wembley

2004as Self

Beyoncé: The Experience Live

2007as Self

Destiny's Child: Live in Atlanta

2006as Vocals

Quincy

2018as Self

Keeping Up with the Kardashians

2007as Self

Mufasa: The Lion King

2024as Nala (voice)

All of Us

2003as Self

Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy

2022as Self (archive footage)

History 101

2020as Self (archive footage)

Black Is King

2020Director, Executive Producer, Music, Music Director, Writer

The Lion King

2019as Nala (voice)

Cadillac Records

2008as Etta James

Beverly Hood

1999as Girl #1

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self - Musical Guest

Dreamgirls

2006as Deena Jones

Epic

2013as Queen Tara (voice)

You're Watching Video Music Box

2021as Self (archive footage)

Lip Sync Battle

2015as Self

Fade to Black

2004as Self

Carmen: A Hip Hopera

2001as Carmen Brown

Romeo Must Die

2000Theme Song Performance

P!NK: Staying True

2013as Self

Austin Powers in Goldmember

2002as Foxxy Cleopatra

The Pink Panther

2006as Xania

The Fighting Temptations

2003as Lilly

Obsessed

2009as Sharon Charles

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003as Self

Pacific Blue

1996as Beyoncé

Diane Warren: Relentless

2024as Self (archive footage)

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003as Self

Punk'd

2003as Self

The Concert for New York City

2001as Self

The View

1997as Self

Beyonce: Limited Edition

2023as Self

Beyonce & Jay-Z: Power Love

2021as Self