Actors-turned-directors are a common phenomenon in Hollywood, so much so that it almost feels like a rite of passage at this point. But while that’s true, not every actor has managed to turn the director’s chair into a throne. So, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering which stars are not only phenomenal actors but also brilliant directors, you’re in the right place.
Being in front of the camera comes naturally to actors who have trained their entire lives for the stage and screen. But being behind the camera and calling the shots? That’s a different ball game. Of course, actors-turned-directors such as Greta Gerwig — who created history in 2023 as the first female solo director to cross the billion-dollar mark at the global box office — make it look like a walk in the park.
Greta’s not the only director who seems to be having awards and critical acclaim for breakfast. Over the years, many other great actors have demonstrated directorial prowess as well. So, if you’d like to read about 12 such actors who, after years spent on set playing iconic villains, secret agents and everything in between, eventually found themselves in the director’s chair calling, “Action!”, keep scrolling.
Kevin Costner and 11 other actors who are also terrific directors
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Kevin CostnerView this post on Instagram
Kevin Costner is one of the rare Hollywood stars who has achieved immense success not only as an actor but also as a director. He first appeared on camera in Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (1981), an independent romantic comedy focusing on three women seeking romance and fame during a hot, sizzling summer in Malibu.
Costner’s role as John Logan, a young and handsome stable owner in Sizzle Beach, U.S.A., quickly brought him the attention he needed for success. Not long afterwards, he starred in the Academy Award-nominated Silverado (1985), a Western action film.
It seems the director’s chair began calling to him early in his career, and in 1990, he finally answered that call by making his directorial debut with Dances with Wolves, which won the actor-turned-director not one but two Academy Awards.
The film earned him the Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture at the 63rd Academy Awards ceremony in 1991. Since then, he has directed several films, including the sci-fi drama The Postman (1997), the revisionist Western drama Open Range (2003) and the epic Western film series Horizon: An American Saga (2024-).
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Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood is more than just a household name in Hollywood. The actor-turned-director has been a major presence in cinema for seven decades. He began his film career in the mid-1950s with an uncredited role in the sci-fi horror Revenge of the Creature (1955) and then gained widespread attention as Rowdy Yates on the Western TV series Rawhide (1959–1965). Eastwood’s international movie stardom followed with Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars (1964), which launched the Dollars Trilogy and established Eastwood as a global star.
His journey as a director began in 1971 with the psychological thriller Play Misty for Me, and from that point onwards, the camera never stopped rolling for Eastwood. One of the many great actors-turned-directors, he has since gone on to helm 40 movies — and has received multiple accolades along the way.
Among his most critically acclaimed films are the revisionist Western drama Unforgiven (1992) and the sports drama Million Dollar Baby (2004), both of which earned him the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
(Image: Courtesy of CLAIRE FOLGER – © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. via IMDb)
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Greta GerwigGreta Gerwig rose to prominence as an actor in the mid-to-late 2000s, before taking on higher-profile roles in films such as Greenberg (2010), No Strings Attached (2011) and Frances Ha (2012). Her performance in Frances Ha earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Gerwig made her solo feature directorial debut in 2017 with Lady Bird, a coming-of-age drama that received five Academy Award nominations. In 2019, she followed it up with Little Women, adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel of the same name. Although the film was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, Gerwig was notably omitted from the Best Director category, a decision widely criticised at the time.
Then came Barbie (2023), a billion-dollar blockbuster that became the highest-grossing film directed solely by a woman.
Also read: 13 great actors who have shockingly never won an Oscar
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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George ClooneyYes, George Clooney may be known as Hollywood’s heartthrob, but he’s also recognised for his top-notch filmmaking skills.
Clooney began his film career with an acting role in the action thriller Grizzly II: Revenge (1983). After a few more parts, he played Bruce Wayne in Batman & Robin (1997), a film many now cite as a notable example of the “so-bad-it’s-good” category. He later cemented his star status with the crime thriller Ocean’s Eleven (2001).
Clooney made his directorial debut with the biographical spy comedy Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), which earned him critical acclaim and awards buzz. Since then, he has directed nine films, including the Oscar-nominated drama Good Night, and Good Luck (2005).
Also read: These 15 movies are the ultimate gems of the ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ category
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Jon FavreauView this post on Instagram
Jon Favreau’s breakout role came in the 1993 sports drama Rudy, in which he played a tutor. Although most audiences remember him as Mike in the comedy Swingers (1996), Favreau has delivered strong performances in films such as The Break-Up (2006) and I Love You, Man (2009).
His directing career, however, is even more remarkable. He helped lay the groundwork for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by helming Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010). However, he had already proven himself behind the camera with hits such as the holiday favourite Elf (2003).
In 2019, he directed Disney’s remake of The Lion King, which became the highest-grossing film of his directing career. His most recent feature as a director is The Mandalorian and Grogu, a continuation of the much-loved Star Wars series, due to arrive in cinemas on 22 May 2026.
And, of course, he is also the driving force behind one of Netflix’s standout food shows, The Chef Show (2019-2020).
Talk about being a man of many talents, right?
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Olivia Wilde
If you only know Olivia Wilde as one of singer Harry Styles’s ex-girlfriends, we truly feel sorry for you — because she’s one of Hollywood’s most creatively adventurous stars, experimenting with and pushing boundaries from the very start of her career.
Although she made her debut on the big screen with the comedy film The Girl Next Door (2004), she had started her professional acting career on television with Skin (2003–2005) and The O.C. (2003–2007), which also starred the Nobody Wants This (2024-) star Adam Brody. But it was a recurring role in the hit TV series House (2004–2012) that truly cemented her position in the industry.
The actor subsequently starred in the sci-fi action film Tron: Legacy (2010) and sci-fi romantic movie Her (2013).
In 2019, she made her feature-film directorial debut with Booksmart, a coming-of-age teen comedy that established her name as one of the most promising directors in the industry. And then, of course, she gave the world Don’t Worry Darling (2022), a film that gave us plenty of chills…and controversies.
Next up in her directorial slate is The Invite, a comedy drama due for release on 26 June 2026.
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Ben AffleckBen Affleck made his acting debut at the tender age of seven in The Dark End of the Street (1981). However, despite working steadily from an early age, he didn’t land the breakthrough he was looking for until 1997, when he starred alongside Matt Damon, Minnie Driver and the late Robin Williams in the romantic drama Good Will Hunting.
After appearing in several more films, Affleck took a step behind the camera. He made his directorial debut with Gone Baby Gone (2007), a crime thriller adapted from Dennis Lehane’s 1998 novel of the same name. He followed this with the critically acclaimed action thriller The Town (2010). And then, Argo (2012) happened. The political thriller earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.
Next, his name will appear in the director’s chair for the upcoming crime thriller Animals (2026).
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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Angelina JolieView this post on Instagram
In the film industry, Angelina Jolie is the gift that keeps on giving. She made her acting debut as a child actor in the 1982 comedy Lookin’ to Get Out, but her first breakthrough role came with the 1995 cult classic Hackers. She went on to deliver a string of critically acclaimed performances before winning her first — and, so far, only — Oscar for the comedy drama Girl, Interrupted (1999).
Jolie made her directorial debut with the documentary A Place in Time (2007). She later stepped into narrative filmmaking with the romantic war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011).
Angelina Jolie has so far directed six feature-length films. Her most recent project as director is Without Blood (2024), a war drama based on Alessandro Baricco’s 2002 novel of the same name.
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Ben StillerBen Stiller may be the son of the legendary actor Jerry Stiller, but he earned a seat at the table through sheer talent. Stiller made his acting debut in 1987 in Steven Lisberger’s Hot Pursuit. He then went on to build his résumé by starring in films such as There’s Something About Mary (1998), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and the iconic Night at the Museum (2006).
Stiller made his feature directorial debut with the 1994 romantic comedy drama Reality Bites. He clearly enjoyed directing because he soon returned with The Cable Guy (1996), a dark-comedy drama starring Jim Carrey. To date, the actor has directed seven feature films.
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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John KrasinskiView this post on Instagram
While many people still recognise him as the goofy Jim Halpert from The Office (2005–2013), John Krasinski has much more to his name. He made his acting debut with an uncredited role in State and Main (2002) and, from there, went on to build an impressive acting résumé with titles such as Aloha (2015) and 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016).
Although his directorial debut came in 2009 with the comedy drama Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, his career reached new heights after he directed the sci-fi horror film A Quiet Place (2018), in which he starred alongside Emily Blunt.
His most recent film as director was the 2024 family comedy drama IF. His next directorial project is the upcoming sci-fi horror thriller A Quiet Place III, which will be out in 2027.
Also read: The adorable relationship timeline of Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
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Bradley CooperBradley Cooper is one of the biggest names in Hollywood today — and rightfully so. He made his acting debut in an episode of the hit HBO series Sex and the City (1998–2004), before making his big-screen debut in 2001 in the comedy drama Wet Hot American Summer.
Cooper built momentum with roles in films such as Wedding Crashers (2005), He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) and The Hangover (2009), before earning an Academy Award nomination for the romantic comedy drama Silver Linings Playbook (2012).
A few years later, Cooper decided to branch out into a new role as a director. In 2018, he made his directorial debut with the musical drama A Star Is Born, a film that cemented his place in the industry as one of the great actors-turned-directors.
His most recent directorial work is the comedy drama Is This Thing On? (2025).
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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Jodie FosterJodie Foster made her acting debut at a very young age in Napoleon and Samantha (1972). Her breakout role followed shortly afterwards in 1976 when she starred in the crime thriller Taxi Driver.
From then on, she featured in critically acclaimed films such as The Accused (1988) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991), which not only earned her widespread praise but also won her Academy Awards.
The supremely talented actor made her feature directorial debut in 1991 with Little Man Tate. Since then, she has worked behind the camera on projects including the dark comedy The Beaver (2011) and the tense thriller Money Monster (2016).
(Image: Courtesy of Kimberley French/Netflix/Kimberley French/Netflix – © 2023 NETFLIX via IMDb)
(Hero and Featured images: Courtesy of Peter Mountain/Netflix/Peter Mountain/Netflix - © 2025 Netflix, Inc. via IMDb; Kimberley French/Netflix/Kimberley French/Netflix - © 2023 NETFLIX via IMDb; IMDb)Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
