Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Heart

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Heart's Feel Good Weekend with Yasmin Evans 12pm - 4pm

    Heart's Feel Good Weekend with Yasmin Evans

    Now Playing

    Rude Boy Rihanna Download 'Rude Boy' on iTunes

    Rude Boy artwork
    • Last Played Songs
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • Showbiz
    • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Win
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Find your Heart station
    • Events
    • Bingo
    • Charity
    • Shopping
    • Topics
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Heart on Twitter
      Follow Heart on Facebook
      Follow Heart on Instagram
      Follow Heart on Youtube

    Showbiz

    TV & Movies

    • TV & Movies Home
    • This Morning
    • Coronation Street
    • EastEnders
    • Emmerdale
    • Britain's Got Talent
    • Hollyoaks
    • Masked Singer
    • Netflix
    • More Showbiz

    Behind The Lense: Actors Turned Director

    Facebook share Twitter share

    With the news that Ryan Gosling would like to work behind the camera and try his hand at directing, we take a look at the most successful on-screen stars who've gone behind the lens.

    1. Ryan Gosling

      1. Ryan Gosling

      Ryan Gosling takes the hot seat in his directorial debut of 'Lost Rivers'. The actor-turned-director has swapped front of camera and stepped behind the lens in most recent project which follows the broken American dream in Detroit. Starring 'Mad Men's Christina Hendricks and 'Dr Who's' Matt Smith, as well as the mother of Gosling's child Eva Mendes. The movie is dark and soulful in tone, as you might expect from the 'Drive' actor, and is hits cinemas now.

    2. The Attitude Awards

      2. Daniel Radcliffe

      The 25-year-old 'Harry Potter' star has revealed to film industry magazine Variety that he'd love to become a director. "I would love to direct. I do it in my head when I'm watching other directors direct. 'No, don't say that to them!' I think I'm quite good with people." said the star, "Part of being a director is knowing how different actors work in different ways. I'd enjoy it."

    3. Angelina Jolie Maleficent photocall in Japan

      3. Angelina Jolie

      Angelina Jolie has spoken about giving up acting and solely dedicating herself to directing and doing humanitarian work. The mum of six directed her first piece, a documentary, in 2007. She went on to direct 'In The Land Of Blood And Honey' in 2011, has just completed 'Unbroken' and is now directing a romantic drama, 'By The Sea', in which she stars with her partner Brad Pitt.

    4. George Clooney in a tuxedo

      4. George Clooney

      These days Gorgeous George is more likely to be found behind the camera than in front. The star has directed several successful films, including this year's 'Monument Men', 'The Ides Of March', 'Good Night, and Good Luck.', 'Leatherheads' and his very first, 2002's 'Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind'.

    5. Ben Affleck smiling

      5. Ben Affleck

      A master of all trades, Ben Affleck's 'Argo' won an Best Film Oscar in 2013. He also directed 'Gone Baby Gone' and 'The Town'.

    6. Drew Barrymore smiling

      6. Drew Barrymore

      Drew Barrymore debuted her talent behind the camera in 2004 with TV film documentary 'Choose or Lose Presents: The Best Place to Start' and in 2009 she directed her first feature length film, 'Whip It', starring Ellen Page.

    7. Clint Eastwood in a leather jacket

      7. Clint Eastwood

      Clint Eastwood is one of the most successful actors/directors in the world. His films always bag awards, such as the Oscar winning 'Million Dollar Baby'. He's also directed 'Invictus', 'Gran Torino', 'Changeling' and 'Mystic River' among others.

    8. Kevin Costner in a white shirt

      8. Kevin Costner

      Kevin Costner's directorial debut was in 1990 with the box office smash hit 'Dances With Wolves'. He went on to direct more films, including 'Waterworld', 'The Postman' and 'Open Range'.

    9. Tom Hanks at the Toronto Film Festival 2012

      9. Tom Hanks

      The Oscar winning actor has worked behind the camera on 'Larry Crowne' and 'That Thing You Do!'. He's also directed TV shows.

    10. Jodie Foster smiling

      10. Jodie Foster

      Foster has directed episodes of successful TV shows 'House Of Cards' and 'Orange Is The New Black' along with films such as 'Little Man Tate', 'The Beaver' and 'Home For The Holidays'.

    11. robert redford in a white shirt and jacket

      11. Robert Redford

      Redford is more likely to be found behind the camera these days. He has several films under his belt, including 'The Horse Whisperer', 'Ordinary People' and 'The Company You Keep'.

    12. lena dunham on the red carpet

      12. Lena Dunham

      The creator, writer and star of 'Girls' has directed several episodes of the TV show and also a full length feature, 'Tiny Furniture'.

    13. Ben Stiller

      13. Ben Stiller

      'Zoolander', 'Tropic Thunder' and 'The Cable Guy' are just some of the comedies directed by Ben Stiller.

    14. Sofia Coppola on the red carpet

      14. Sofia Coppola

      Sofia Coppola started out her career as an actress with small roles in several films, including her father Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather III'. She's now best known as the director of 'The Virgin Suicides' and 'The Bling Ring'.

    15. Courtney Cox smiling

      15. Courtney Cox

      'Friends' star Courtney Cox directed film 'Just Before I Go' this year and episodes of 'Cougar Town' the TV show she stars in.

    16. Ron Howard smiling

      16. Ron Howard

      Ron Howard first found fame as Richie Cunningham in the hugely popular TV show 'Happy Days'. After hanging out with The Fonz on set for 10 years, he decided to take up directing. Howard is one of the most successful directors around now, with huge movies under his belt, such as 'Frost/Nixon', 'The Da Vinci Code', 'Apollo 13' and 'A Beautiful Mind' to name a few.

    Facebook share Twitter share
    Back to top

    Also on Heart

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Heart Dance
    • Heart 00s
    • Heart 90s
    • Heart 80s
    • Heart 70s
    • Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda
    • Heart Bingo
    • Sustainability
    • Hollyoaks
    • Quizzes
    • Global Academy
    • Homes & Garden
    • Netflix
    • The Chase
    • Gogglebox
    • EastEnders
    • Books & Culture
    • Coronation Street
    • Shopping
    • Royals
    • Emmerdale
    • Pets
    • Stacey Solomon
    • Travel
    • Summer
    • Fashion
    • Wellness
    • Parenting
    • Holly Willoughby
    • Beauty
    • Food & Health
    • This Morning
    • TV & Movies

    Useful Links

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Public File
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Heart on Twitter
    Follow Heart on Facebook
    Follow Heart on Instagram
    Follow Heart on Youtube
    © Global 2022
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager