Hollywood actors who shined in movies they directed

For some actors, stepping behind the camera is a natural progression of their careers, however, only few manage to direct themselves into performances that are just as amazing as their movies.

Here are some of the celebrities who proved they could excel both in front of and behind the camera:

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie’s best directorial effort may be First They Killed My Father in 2017, in which she didn’t appear.

In By the Sea, Jolie boldly put herself at the centre of a film about love and the nature of fame.

The story of a crumbling marriage, co-starring then-husband Brad Pitt, became a deeply personal reflection on perfection and the pressures of celebrity.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper as director and actor of A Star Is Born created a heartbreaking portrayal of a self destructive musician named Jackson Maine.

His performance drew from his own screen history, the tough heartland hero of American Sniper, the manic dreamers of Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, and even the wild charm of The Hangover. That blend made Maine a complex and devastating figure.

Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall’s directorial projects have been hit or miss, but his The Apostle stands tall as his magnum opus.

Written, directed, and starring Duvall, the movie revolves around a preacher who after losing his church sets out to rebuild his life and faith.

It was an amazing project, one he fought for years to bring to the screen. The seriousness of the movie combined with Duvall’s fiery performance, made it one of his important roles.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner stepped behind the camera at the height of his fame and delivered an Oscar winning piece. His Dances With Wolves not only won Best Picture but also revived the dying Western genre.

The movie has long been shadowed by its win over Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Costner’s portrayal of a weary hero fit perfectly into the Gary Cooper mold, which makes the character both rugged and relatable.