When good actors become great directors

Following the DVD & Blu-ray release of the film Wild Bill, out 23^rd July (and reviewed here), we put a spotlight on the director; Dexter Fletcher.

Wild Bill marks the directorial debut for Fletcher, who has opted for a spot behind the camera this time. Well known for his film roles, Fletcher isn’t the first actor to make this switch, in fact some of the best films have been created by actors-turned-directors. Here is our pick of actors-turned-directors.  

Dexter Fletcher

Known for his roles in works such as Band of Brothers, Revolution, Hotel Babylon, Love, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Dexter Fletcher has switched roles with his directorial debut film; Wild Bill. As his first film, Fletcher tells the story of two boys who have their lives turned upside-down when their deadbeat father unexpectedly comes back into the picture. This film takes on a gritty tone as the newly reunited family tries to cope with life in the East End of London. Wild Bill is sure to only be the beginning of Fletcher’s time behind the camera.

 

Kevin Costner

He was the pretty-boy breakout in Brian De Palma's The Untouchables who went on to become one of the biggest stars of the 1990s with hits like Field of Dreams, JFK and Robin Hood but he earned solid respect from the critics with his Best Picture and Best Director Oscar winner Dances With Wolves. Open Range wasn't bad either!
 

Ron Howard

From playing little Opie on The Andy Griffith Show to award winning director, Ron Howard has become one of the most successful directors of all time. His past work includes A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, and Frost/Nixon, all of which have been both financial and critical successes. It is clear to see that Howard’s films have staked a claim in cinema history.
 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor he's always going to be remembered for his sneering villain in Brighton Rock (or the owner of Jurassic Park for more recent film followers), but his acting skill - while considerable - pales when compared with his work as a director: Gandhi and A Bridge Too Far are just of his epic masterworks.
 

Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola, coming from a well-known showbiz family, was destined to be a part of the film world. Making brief appearances in TV shows, movies (including Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather III), and music videos, Coppola finally found her stride when she took the director’s chair. She became the first American female to be nominated for the Academy Award for Directing with her film Lost in Translation. Other notable works of hers are Somewhere and The Virgin Suicides.

 

George Clooney

George Clooney is one of the film industry’s top male actors and his transition from TV to movies and then to directing was just as smooth as he is. Clooney has made small screen appearances in shows such as The Facts of Life and ER, and today you can see him in blockbuster movies like The Descendents, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Up in the Air. Since then he has directed award winning films, some of which include the multi-Oscar nominated Goodnight and Good Luck and The Ides of March. His demure approach to directing has proven to be quite successful.

 

Noel Clarke

Named the “Rising Star” by BAFTA in 2009, Noel Clarke is displaying that he has a lot more to offer than just being one of The Doctor’s sidekicks. Clarke has made the move from leading actor to screenwriter and director. After the success of his role in Kidulthood he went on to write, star in and direct the acclaimed sequel, Adulthood. Clarke has shown that he is a star to watch out for in the upcoming future.

 

Clint Eastwood

Since being involved in the film industry for over 50 years Clint Eastwood has become a legend in all aspects of cinema. From acting to writing, and directing to composing, Eastwood has covered it all. Starting his career as a hugely successful actor in roles like Dirty Harry and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Eastwood then became a hugely successful director as well. Winner of two Best Director and two Best Picture Oscars, his most notable films include Unforgiven, Letters from Iwo Jima, and the box office smash Million Dollar Baby.

 

Gene Kelly

Award winning actor Gene Kelley is widely known for being a classic triple threat; he could sing, he could act, and he could dance. And on top of all that he could direct. Along with co-director Stanley Donen, Kelly went onto creating one of the greatest, if not the greatest, musical films of all time; Singing in the Rain, solidifying his title as a quadruple threat.

 

Rob Reiner

Famously known as Michel ‘Meathead’ Stivic, Rob Reiner was once a part of one of the most successful American television shows ever; All in the Family. But as the show ended Reiner began to make himself known in the directing world by creating some of the most memorable films in pop culture. His list of work includes Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, Misery, and When Harry Met Sally.  However, to this day he is still unable to shake that famous nickname from his acting days long ago.

 

Woody Allen

Before his films like Vicky Christina Barcelona, Match Point, and Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen was the one starring in the pictures. Some of his earliest, and most famous, roles were Play it Again, Sam, and Annie Hall. He started his directing career in the late 1960’s and since 1982 Allen has directed at least one film every year, proving that he is one of the hardest working directors of all time that beautifully crafts films for all types of audiences.

 

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin, also known iconically as The Tramp, has been one of the biggest influences in cinematic comedy history. Chaplin acted in, wrote, produced and directed a majority of his famous films, including The Great Dictator and City Lights. With the reputation of being a perfectionsist, Chaplin paved the way for future actors that dream of being in the director’s, producer’s, and writer’s chair all at once.

© 2012 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Wild Bill is released on Blu-ray & DVD 23 July 2012, from Universal Pictures (UK). Read our review HERE.

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