From the stage to the ballot box - US stars who got elected

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon's foray into politics is far from unusual in the United States.

After being defeated in her bid to become governor of New York, she said it was "just the beginning".

A few others, like her, have also been rebuffed by the electorate when trying to swap the stage for elected office.

But quite a few have transferred their screen popularity to a new career.

Here are some of the best-known.

Ronald Reagan

Reagan was the 40th president of the United States - in office from 1981 to 1989.

Born in 1911, he worked as a Hollywood actor and trade union leader before serving as governor of California between 1967 and 1975.

He was a Democrat until 1962, before switching to the Republicans.

When he became president, he was the oldest president-elect to take the oath of office, at 69 years and 349 days.

That distinction is now held by Donald Trump, who was 70 when he assumed office last year.

Donald Trump

Not a conventional showbiz star, the current president was however a fixture on US TV for 14 seasons as he hosted the US version of The Apprentice, the programme which also became a huge hit in the UK, hosted by Lord Sugar.

Part of his political appeal was his "outsider" status. Here was someone who was not a career politician, having never held public office before.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

The professional bodybuilder and actor became a Republican governor of California.

In a crowded field of candidates, he was the most recognisable name, but had never held public office.

In addition, his political views were not widely known.

But he won and served two terms, from 2003 to 2011, becoming known as the "Governator".

Sonny Bono

Cher's singing partner and former husband wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records for the pair, including I Got You Babe. He also wrote and produced singles for Cher during her solo recording career.

Later, when he went into politics, he was mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992.

In 1994, he was elected to the House of Representatives to represent California's 44th congressional district as a Republican.

Fred Thompson

Thompson has appeared in a number of big movies including The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard 2, and Cape Fear.

On TV, he was in the long-running show Law & Order, playing Manhattan district attorney Arthur Branch.

Politically, he represented Tennessee on the US Senate from 1994 to 2003, and was a Republican presidential candidate in 2008.

And those that were not so fortunate...

Shirley Temple

The child star began her career at the age of three in 1932. A couple of years later, she became an international star in Bright Eyes, before retiring from movies in 1950 at the age of 22.

Politically, she ran as a Republican in a special election in California's 11th congressional district in 1967, after the incumbent died of leukemia.

Later, she was United States ambassador to Ghana, and to Czechoslovakia.

Norman Mailer

In 1969, the novelist and journalist ran as a Democrat for mayor of New York, advocating that the city should be split off from the rest of New York State and be made into a 51st state.

Aligning himself with columnist Jimmy Breslin, their slogan was "throw the rascals in".

He came fourth in a field of five.

Reflecting on his loss, he said: "The difference between me and the other candidates is that I'm no good and I can prove it."