14 Celebs Who Became Directors

Barbie is lastly out! On July 21, the extremely anticipated movie made its strategy to theaters after an intense and much-discussed promo marketing campaign. It is a main second for director Greta Gerwig, who’s impressively on her third solo movie in about 5 years. Higher but, she bought her begin in motion pictures as a profitable actor, although she’s at all times dabbled in work behind the digicam, too.

In honor of her newest movie launch, listed below are 14 well-known actors (together with Greta) who tried their hand at nice success for guiding:

1.

Greta Gerwig, Barbie (2023):

As for why she took the leap to solo direct Woman Chook, Greta instructed Vulture in 2017, “Once I completed the script, I had a second with myself the place I thought, ‘You’re both going to do that now otherwise you’re by no means going to do that. Now it’s a must to make your errors and get your items as a result of it’s a must to, sooner or later, bounce.'”

2.

Molly Gordon, Theater Camp (2023):

As for why she co-directed Theater Camp, Molly instructed Nylon, “Particularly as a lady, I wanted to say myself and never look ahead to others to present me that, as a result of they’re simply not going to.”

3.

Eva Longoria, Flamin’ Scorching (2023):

As for why now was the second for Eva to direct her first characteristic, she instructed The Hollywood Reporter she first needed to discover the arrogance to direct. “The business’s positively cautious of an actor coming in [to direct]. For me, it was about overcoming that. It wasn’t sexism or racism. It was like, ‘Right here comes a dumb actor,'” she stated.

4.

Ben Affleck, Air (2023)

As for why Gone Child Gone was the fitting movie for his characteristic directorial debut, Ben instructed SFGate in 2007, “On some stage, I wished to do a film set in Boston. I believed it might make me really feel safer and cozy as a result of it is a spot I do know higher than anyplace. I wished to point out town the best way I do know it, to say one thing private. No one might say I do not perceive that place.”

5.

Michael B. Jordan, Creed III (2023)

As for why Creed III was the fitting directorial debut for Michael, he instructed Deadline he resonated with the movie’s story a few younger Black man coping with fame, profession, and household dynamics. “I [thought] a lot of that might be common and relatable to a variety of completely different individuals. For me, it felt like who else was gonna have the ability to direct me in one thing that I felt like I’ve lived?” he stated.

6.

Olivia Wilde, Do not Fear Darling (2022)

As for why Olivia Wilde wished to get into directing, she instructed Selection in 2020, “I by no means wished to pigeonhole myself. I used to be simply, like, ‘I like every part. I’ll do something.’ That was proof that what I actually love is the method. That was a clue that I used to be alleged to be directing.”

7.

Jordan Peele, Nope (2022)

As for why Jordan wished to direct, he instructed the Los Angeles Occasions in 2018 that he at all times felt compelled to however “left [his] dream of being a director behind” as a result of he did not see “a spot for very many black administrators.” He stated, “I believed it might be tougher for me as an individual of shade to persuade somebody to let me use their cash to make a film. A few years later after an odyssey by way of appearing and comedy, I got here again to my unique dream. And the truth that it’s been acquired the best way it has been acquired teaches me lots about how I internalized the system.”

8.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Misplaced Daughter (2021)

As for why Maggie wished to direct, she instructed Deadline inspiration got here partly from taking part in a porn director on the HBO sequence, The Deuce. “I had type of opened the gates a little bit bit and was speaking about it with [The Lost Daughter producers] a little bit. And so they have been, ‘Run, don’t stroll. That is what you ought to be doing,'” she stated.

9.

George Clooney, The Tender Bar (2021)

As for why George began directing, he instructed CNN final yr, “Once you’re appearing in a movie, you are principally one of many paints. Once you’re directing the movie, you are the painter. You get to choose and select, and it is infinitely extra thrilling.”

10.

Denzel Washington, A Journal for Jordan (2021)

As for why Denzel enjoys directing, he instructed PBS in 2021, “I want not being within the movies [he directs.] Early on, it needed to do with me with the ability to increase the cash to get the movies made. Then Fences, clearly we had nice success onstage, in order that translated to movie. However I take pleasure in being a extra behind-the-scenes form of man.”

11.

Regina King, One Night time in Miami… (2020)

As for why she made her characteristic directorial debut with One Night time in Miami…, Regina instructed Thrillist in 2021, “Studying Kemp’s script, the best way he humanized these 4 males made me really feel like I consider each Black man that I do know and love can see himself on this piece.”

12.

Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born (2018)

As for why Bradley directed A Star Is Born, he instructed Time in 2018, “I’ve at all times recognized I wished to direct. At all times. So it was about going through the concern of doing it. I stated by 40 if I haven’t taken a shot, disgrace on me.”

13.

Randall Park, Shortcomings (2023)

As for why Randall wished to direct, he instructed GQ earlier this yr, “I used to be nearly blown away by how comfy I felt in that place. Being concerned in each side, feeling just like the chief of this staff, reshaping your imaginative and prescient with the assistance of others—all of it was actually thrilling to me.”

14.

Chelsea Peretti, First Time Feminine Director (2024)

As for why Chelsea wished to direct, she instructed the Related Press, “I really feel such as you simply should have this a part of you that claims, “F—- it.” I at all times wish to be like making an attempt new issues and I at all times wish to be rising. That’s the enjoyable of being artistic to me. And that doesn’t imply that each one these concepts work. However I like spontaneity and following inspiration and seeing what occurs.”