10 Actors Who Became Great Film Directors

Once known for being the worst part of a lacklustre Godfather: Part 3, Sofia Coppola never lit up the silver screen as an actress. She gave acting a fair shake, appearing in a few of her legendary father, Francis Ford Coppola’s, films but could never really make a career out of it.

However, in 1998 she wrote and directed the short film Lick The Star and the directing bug bit, hard! The following year she made a name for herself with the critically acclaimed Virgin Suicides and would follow this with Lost In Translation, for which she would win an Academy award for Best Original Screenplay and nomination for Best Director.

She has since gone on to direct and produce well received films, continues to be a powerful female force in the industry and prove that great directing did indeed run in the family.