From Actor to Director

From Actor to Director

 

 

With the release of Take This Waltz directed by Sarah Polley out next month, The Peoples Movies take a look at the most recent actor to step behind the camera and have a go at directing.

 

It is said that if you’re an actor, you’re an actor its what your famous for, but film fans forget that there are two sides to the camera; acting infront and directing behind. Some actors begin as directors and turn to acting afterwards whereas some actors decide that after starring in a certain amount of films that they want to see what it’s like behind the camera and take up directing.

 

This is what the following actors below have done.

 

Ralph Fiennes most famous for his roles in The English Patient and Harry Potter recently turned to directing when he directed and starred in Coriolanus by William Shakespeare a story about a banished hero of Rome allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city.

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Stiller famous for his roles in Night at the Museum made his directing debut in 2001 with Zoolander a story about a brainwashed, clueless fashion model  who kills the Malaysian Prime Minister. Aswell as directing it Ben also starred in the movie opposite Owen Wilson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel Gibson first directed Braveheart in

     1995 about a commoner who unites the

     13^th Century Scots in their battle to over

     English rule. He also played William Wallace,

     the lead role.

 

 

 

   

 

Sean Penn made his directing debut in The Indian Runner. His most recent film he directed was in 2007, the film Into the Wild starring Vince Vaughn, about a university student who abandons his possessions and gives his savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska.

 

 

 

George Clooney famous for his roles in Oceans Thirteen and The Descendents most recently directed The Ideas of March focusing on an idealistic staffer who gets a crash course on dirty politics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It isn’t just actors who get behind the camera and take up directing actresses do too. The most recent actresses turned directors include:

 

Drew Barrymore famous for starring in films such as Music and Lyrics and He`s Just not that Into You made her directing debut in 2009 when she directed Whip It starring Ellen Page. A story about an indie rock loving misfit who deals with life in a new town by taking part in a roller derby league.

 

 

 

Sofia Coppola Sofia’s directing credits include The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette and most recently Somewhere   about an ex Hollywood actor who re-examines life after his 11 year old daughter comes and visits.

 

 

 

 

Jodie Foster most famous for her roles in Panic Room and  Carnage first took to directing when she directed an episode of Tales from the Dark Side in 1983. Since then Jodie has continued her directing career with Little Mantate, Home for the Holidays and most recently The Beaver in which she also starred. The Beaver tells the story of a troubled husband who adopts a beaver as a means of communicating.

 

Angelina Jolie famous for starring in Salt and The Tourist  took up directing last year when she directed In the land of Blood and Honey a story set during the Bosnian War about a soldier fight for the Serbs.

 

 

 

 

Sarah Polley first made her directing debut in 1999 when she directed The Best Day of my Life. Since then she has continued  directing with Don’t think Twice, I shout Love, All I want for Christmas, Away from Her and most recently Take This Waltz in cinemas August 17^th which tells the story of a happily married women who falls in love with her neighbour starring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen.

 

 

 

Actors that have said they would be interested in taking up directing include Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikouskia