A Star is Born to Woman of the Hour: The best times actors became directors and pulled it off

When you watched Twilight all them many moons ago and got well and truly pissed off by Anna Kendrick in the most annoying role known to man, did you ever think that in the good year of 2024 she’d have released one of the most exciting and taut thriller directorial debuts you’ve seen in ages? Probably not, but here we are. Woman of the Hour has been a huge hit for Netflix and is genuinely one of my favourites of 2024, and an exciting time for an actress you’ve known for years stepping behind the camera with an interesting point of view. To echo that funny tweet, “I love da movies”. Here’s a quick rundown of all the best times actors you know well flipped the camera and became directors, and did a reasonably great job of it!

Ben Affleck

Whilst it wasn’t his first film, Ben Affleck wrote, starred, produced and directed Argo in 2012 and even took home Best Picture for it. Not too shabby.

Clint Eastwood

One of the most famous actor turned director examples, Clint Eastwood has been notorious for his acting work in Westerns that then pivoted into his directing style. He’s had huge success as a director with the likes of Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, Sully, American Sniper and Unforgiven.

John Krasinski 

We all know and love him as Jim in The Office, but John Krasinski has directed a fair bit too – including episodes of The Office. But notably, broke through in 2018 with his A Quiet Place horror film and its sequel. Great stuff.

Greta Gerwig

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Greta Gerwig started off acting but now is far better known for her films, which she hasn’t messed up once. Back to back wows of Ladybird, Little Women and, of course, Barbie. How can you not wow? Impossible.

Jordan Peele

Peele is one of those actors who became directors that people literally forget started out now a sketch comedian. Since his earth shattering debut with Get Out, he hasn’t let up stream with Us and Nope. An instant horror legend and an insanely talented filmmaker.

Olivia Wilde

Okay, we do not speak of Don’t Worry Darling. We will never speak of Don’t Worry Darling again. But we DO speak of the outstanding Booksmart which was Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut and is one of the best teen comedies of recent years, in my humble opinion.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper really burst out the gate with A Star Is Born and made a masterpiece. And got some great work out of himself and Gaga in the process. I kinda hated Maestro but at least Carey Mulligan was wow in it!

Anna Kendrick

Well, here we are. God Kendrick really delivered. For her first film, Anna Kendrick created a tense true crime thriller that challenges the patriarchy and tells the story of a woman who found herself matched with serial killer Rodney Alcala in the 1970s. It’s a harrowing, terrifying watch and a great debut. More please! Actors who become directors have a lovely tendency of knocking it out of the park.

Woman of the Hour is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• An uncanny side by side comparison of the Woman of the Hour cast versus the real people

• The Dating Game episode with the real Rodney Alcala has resurfaced and it’s terrifying

• Anna Kendrick says the ‘weird remark’ about nudity scenes in Woman of the Hour was real