Eva Longoria, Katie Holmes, & More Actresses Who’ve Stepped Behind the Camera

It’s a bit of a tired cliché in Hollywood. After years of being on the silver screen, A-list actors decide they want to be the ones who are really in charge: the man in the director’s chair. Big names like George Clooney, Ben Affleck and Clint Eastwood have all made their names even bigger by directing blockbusters from behind the camera.

But now, there’s a new guard on the way. More and more female actors are stepping up to test their hand at directing, too — and they are making waves. From Angelina Jolie and Jodie Foster to Eva Longoria, top actresses are making movies that have garnered awards fodder and critical acclaim.

Halle Berry’s directorial debut Bruised was years in the making. After making history as the first (and thus far only) Black woman to win the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Berry’s career met unique challenges — ones she met time and again. Now, as a filmmaker, she’s calling the shots.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is following suit, too. The Oscar nominated actress has earned rave reviews for her adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter. These two women join a growing list of Hollywood leading ladies who are making challenging, thoughtful feature length films.

Let’s look at some of the biggest movers and shakers taking their turn behind the camera.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria has plenty of experience both in front of and behind the camera as an actress and producer, and in 2023, she made her directorial debut with Flamin’ Hot, the story of how a Frito-Lay janitor came up with the popular snack.

“I immediately knew I was the only person who could tell this story,” she previously told SheKnows of the film, which hits theaters June 9. “I really felt that in my bones. I was like, ‘This I know. This I can add value. This world I can build out because I’m from it.’ ”

Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes has conquered so much with acting, from her iconic TV characters to her unbelievably-likable movie roles. However, Holmes has also shown her incredible directional chops in projects like All We Had, the short called Eternal Princess, Along Together, and most recently, the upcoming drama Rare Objects. 

Regina King

Regina King is an absolute queen when it comes to Hollywood. An Emmy and Oscar winner, the If Beale Street Could Talk star has been stepping behind the camera directing TV episodes for years. But in 2020, her feature film debut, One Night in Miami, showed that King’s talents are limitless.