Acting to directing: the switch that worked for 6 Hollywood stars

Some actors have tried their hand at directing movies or TV shows after starting out as performers. 

This means that they went from acting in front of the camera to being in charge of making creative decisions behind it. 

Some of these actor-directors have done really well and ended up making films which got a lot of attention, while others have used directing as means to tell different kinds of stories or have more control over the projects they have been involved in.

Here are six of them:

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper is known for being a big deal both an actor and a director. His first movie as a director was A Star Is Born in 2018. 

It did really well with critics and at the box office by combining music and drama in a compelling way, getting him tons of recognition along the way. 

Bradley’s next big directing project was Maestro in 2023 — a movie about the life of legendary composer, Leonard Bernstein, further showcasing his ability to handle complicated stories and characters.  

So far Bradley has directed only two movies, both of which received Best Picture nominations at the Oscars — pretty impressive for just two movies as a director. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck is famous for being a great actor, but he has also done a lot of good work as a director. 

Even though he has not won an Oscar for his directorial work yet, he did end up bagging an Oscar for Best Picture for his movie, Argo. 

Ben’s directorial style is often praised for its strong narrative, compelling characters and ability to blend genres. 

The actor-director is also known for his attention to detail and his ability to create a sense of realism in his films.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is becoming a big name in movies and people has really liked her work on movies like Barbie, so far, praising the film for its funny screenplay and meaningful message.

For the unversed, Greta started out acting in smaller roles back in the mid-2000s. Since she started directing movies, the actress-director is particularly known for her unique blend of humor, honesty and exploration of complex female narratives in her films.

Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Key were superstars because of their comedy show Key & Peele. 

Nobody thought that Jordan would start making horror movies but he did and it was a great idea. 

Jordan is an Oscar and Emmy winning director, writer, actor, producer and founder of Monkeypaw Productions. 

The Us filmmaker made some huge hits like Get Out and Nope because of these movies Jordon’s future looks great and we are lucky to get to watch his stuff. 

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie has made a directing career alongside her successful acting career.

She has directed several movies, including the war dramas In the Land of Blood and Honey. 

Angelina’s films as a director have not always gotten the best reviews but her movies are incredibly underrated. 

Some of the talented actress' other directorial titles include powerful movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner is a highly acclaimed American actor, director and musician, known for his work in both acting and directing, particularly for epic dramas and western.

The actor gained significant recognition as a director with Dances with Wolves in 1990, which won him two Academy Awards including Best picture and Best Director. 

A veteran of the industry, Kevin Costner has also directed other films like Open Range in 2003.