10 actors you probably didn’t know were also directors

It makes sense that at some point, many actors decide to try acting and step behind the camera to exercise more creative control. Many famous actors have made the transition and today are best known for their directing, such as Greta Gerwig or John Cassavetes. However, the reverse also applies to artists who have achieved such a level of stardom that discovering they have contributed so much to major works of cinema comes as a surprise. However, Having experience as a performer gives the director unique insight into how best to work with actors.

There are plenty of actors who are even better directors, but these actors are so well-known for their on-screen roles that it’s a shock to learn they’re behind the camera. Most of the time, these actors were already hired to act in the projects they directed, giving them an even greater challenge. While films are typically praised for their expert direction, some of these actors got their start directing episodes of their own TV shows and then lending their skills to other series following their success.

10

Marlon Brando

Known for One-Eyed Monkeys (1961)

Marlon Brando also stars One-Eyed Monkeysand his character, Rio, is a scarier Western hero than the story’s villain. One of the only Westerns in which Brando starred, One-Eyed Monkeys is a departure for Brando, but he’s fascinating as ever as Rio and is clearly in conversation with the history of the western genre. Like many of Brando’s works, One-Eyed Monkeys subverted expectations, and although it wasn’t a hit at the time of its release, it has become a cult classic today.

It was the only project directed by Brando and it’s not surprising that his world-famous roles have long overshadowed this. However, when watching One-Eyed MonkeysIt is clear that Brando already knew his legacy and talked to him, as well as the history of cinema. Only an actor and director who truly loved this art form could invest as much in the realization of a project as One-Eyed Monkeys and tell such a compelling story.

9

Jodie Foster

Known as Black Mirror

Acting from a young age, Jodie Foster knows film and television inside and out, which shows in her many stints as director of various TV shows. One of the most famous series she worked on, Black Mirroris an international phenomenon that explores the dark and dystopian aspects of the emergence of new technologies in society. In the same way as these themes, Most of the projects Foster pursues have a strong internal message.

Other programs include Orange is the new black, House of cardsand Tales from the Loopall deeply rooted in social and cultural commentary. As an actress, Foster recently joined the cast of True Detective: Night Countrywhich was a return to his roots as a detective in projects such as The Silence of the Lambs. However, its characteristic, Little Man Tatein which she also starred, remains one of her most moving works, both on and off camera.

8

Tim Robbins

Known for Dead Man Walking (1995)

Many great works of cinema would not exist without Tim Robbins. His performances in classics such as The player, The Shawshank Redemptionand Taurus Durham are vital to the tone and success of these projects. Demonstrating enormous range in these films, Robbins has shown similar flexibility in his directorial projects. In taking on films and TV shows, Robbins’ most memorable film is Dead Man Walkingthe critically acclaimed exploration of a man on death row.

Starring Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, Dead Man Walking was more nuanced than audiences and critics expected, with Robbins even receiving a Best Director nomination at the Oscars. The morality of the death penalty, the prison system and man’s innocence are all called into question in the Dead Man Walking. Robbins was praised for his ability to strike an objective yet hopeful tone that infused empathy into the story.

7

Danny De Vito

Known for Matilda (1996)

As one of the best adaptations of the work of seminal children’s author Roald Dahl, Matilde is a beloved classic, and few audiences know that it was Danny DeVito behind the camera. While simultaneously playing Matilda’s horrible father, Harry, DeVito created the magical world that transported so many young audiences to a place of imagination. The visual style, atmosphere, and performances were universally praised, and DeVito was behind many of these choices.

DeVito himself is best known for his many comedic roles in film and television, most notably his long-running performance in It’s always sunny in Philadelphia. While Matilde is his most recognized achievement as a director, he had been working as a director long before this, and this experience was translated to the screen. Although he is considered a comedic actor, DeVito brings emotional depth to all of his work, allowing audiences to see themselves in the characters and lose themselves in the stories.

6

Jason Bateman

Known for Ozark (2017–2022)

Although Jason Bateman has been in some great comedy films in recent years, he is best known for his television roles. Comedy was where Bateman started, but Ozarks takes a darker and more dramatic direction than almost any of his other work. As one of the protagonists OzarksBateman had to balance leading the story as the nuanced antihero and directing many of the episodes. Throughout his career, Bateman frequently directed episodes of the series in which he participated.

Ozarks Season 5 won’t happen, but that’s for the best, as the series’ four seasons told a compact, well-paced story. Although some of Bateman’s most dynamic directions were toward Ozarkshe also got behind the camera to Arrested development, The strangerand many more projects. Although he has less experience with feature films, Bateman is prepared to direct more films in the future. However, he thrives on television because of his ability to follow long-term development.

5

Ralph Fiennes

Known for Coriolanus (2011)

Like many actors who came before him, Ralph Fiennes tried his hand at directing an adaptation of a work by William Shakespeare. Also starring as the titular character Coriolanus Fiennes is joined by heavyweights like Gerard Butler and Brian Cox. Coriolanus takes the traditional story and translates it to a modern setting, focusing on violence and tragedy and how the futile sacrifice of war is equally captivating no matter when the narrative takes place.

Coriolanus had strong critical reception, leading Fiennes to continue his directing trajectory with The Invisible Woman and The White Crow. Although none of these films reached the pinnacle of success as his best acting work, as the Harry Potter movies or The Grand Budapest Hotelthey illustrate what types of stories interest Fiennes as an artist. Fiennes recently rose to prominence once again for his performance in the religious drama Conclave.

4

Drew Barrymore

Known for Whip It (2009)

Drew Barrymore’s career has taken many turns and the cult classic she directed in 2009 Whipis a lesser-known but interesting addition. Elliot Page stars as Bliss, the protagonist of Whip, who joins a roller derby team that changes his life forever. As his film debut, Whip it was also her last film as a director, as Barrymore had recently turned to her highly successful talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show.

Whip joins the ranks of many classic coming-of-age films from the 2000s, with a phenomenal cast and a feel-good narrative that all audiences can relate to. Although it received decent praise from critics, Whip underperformed at the box office, but in recent years the public has begun to rediscover it. In conversation with alternative aesthetics and music, Whip is a valuable contribution to the genre and should be discussed more in regards to Barrymore’s career.

3

Keanu Reeves

Known for Tai Chi Man (2013)

It’s no surprise that Keanu Reeves directed a version of the action genre when he started directing, as the actor is known as one of the most famous action stars in recent history. However, his work in other genres should not be underestimated, as Reeves was often considered a romantic lead and worked on a variety of projects before joining long-term franchises like The Matrix and John Wick. This whole experience influenced his direction Tai Chi Man.

However Tai Chi Man is the only directing credit to Reeves’ name, It is a memorable project that few audiences have seen. Overall the best part Tai Chi Man it’s the action sequences, as Reeves is so familiar with fight choreography, and all of these moments pay homage to classic martial arts films and these fighting styles. It has been many years since Tai Chi Manbut Reeves would likely find an audience today thanks to the iconic status of the John Wick films.

2

Michael B. Jordan

Known for Credo III (2023)

Although Michael B. Jordan only had one film as director, it was a success and paved the way for future projects. After starring in the first two Belief films, Jordan decided to try directing to I believeIIand his familiarity with the franchise went a long way toward creating a cohesive yet innovative atmosphere. Maintaining momentum in a cinematic universe with the legacy of Belief and Rocky It’s a lot of pressure, but Jordan has proven he has an undeniable understanding of what Belief it’s all about.

For the next Creed IVJordan will return to directing and starring following the success of the third film, and audiences can only hope he branches out into new directing projects after that. His experience in a wide variety of genres gives him a unique insight into the world of cinema, which lends itself to any story he sets his sights on. The fact that Jordan is such a celebrated actor also opens the door for him to continue acting and contributing creatively behind the scenes to his works.

1

Eva Longoria

Known for Flamin’Hot (2023)

Not only an actress and director, but also a producer, Eva Longoria has more than left her mark about the world of cinema and television. Most audiences recognize her for her lead role in the drama TV show Desperate housewives like Gabrielle. Thanks to the fame he gained from this project, Longoria began directing TV episodes for shows such as Joan, the Virgin and Why women kill. However, it has transitioned to features in recent years.

Longoria’s most prominent recent film, Flamin’ hottells the story of the man who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, but it is much more than a comedic biopic. Through her work as a director, Longoria tapped into the emotional core of the story, especially focusing on the protagonist, Richard Montañez. As a creative in the film industry, Longoria has established a strong future for herself as a director, and it will be exciting to see what projects she takes on next.