By Jessica Wedemeyer
5:15am PDT, Aug 10, 2020
Who says you can't do it all?! Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at 20 celebs who are true multi-hyphenates — they wrote, directed and starred in some of our all-time favorite films, which you can stream online while quarantining at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Keep reading to get the scoop on some of the hardest working stars in Hollywood, starting with Bradley Cooper… The Oscar-nominated actor made his directorial debut with the 2018 remake of "A Star Is Born," which was a huge hit with critics and at the box office and is currently streaming on Hulu. He also wrote and starred in the musical drama, which scored eight Oscar nominations including best picture, best adapted screenplay, best lead actor and best lead actress for Lady Gaga, who portrayed the aspiring singer opposite his failing country-rocker.
RELATED: Actors' directorial debuts
Ben Affleck wrote, directed and starred in 2010's "The Town." (It was his first time directing himself in a film role.) Jeremy Renner racked up award nominations for his performance in the lauded crime-thriller — he and Ben starred as childhood pals who find themselves at odds over how to handle a witness who might be able to identify them as the crew that robbed a Boston bank. After "The Town" — which is currently streaming on Netflix — Ben wrote, directed and starred in 2017's "Live By Night."
RELATED: Oscar winners' first movies
Angelina Jolie wrote, directed and starred in 2015's "By the Sea." She and then-husband Brad Pitt portrayed an American married couple navigating a rough patch in their relationship while vacationing in coastal France in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the romantic drama — which is streaming on Netflix — underperformed at the box office and with critics.
RELATED: Actresses who also direct
George Clooney made his directorial debut with the Charlie Kaufman-penned biopic "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." A few years later, he wrote, directed and starred in 2005's "Good Night, and Good Luck." He scored six Oscar nominations for his efforts, including best picture, best director and best original screenplay. The multi-hyphenate portrayed Edward R. Murrow's producer Fred W. Friendly in the historical drama, which you can rent or buy on Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube or iTunes. George went on to write, direct and star in 2011's "The Ides of March" and 2014's "The Monuments Men."
Tom Hanks made his feature film directorial debut with 1996's "That Thing You Do!" He also wrote and starred in the musical drama, which is currently streaming across HBO platforms, as The Wonders' manager, Amos White. Later, he wrote, directed and starred in 2011's "Larry Crowne."
Eddie Murphy made his directorial debut with 1989's "Harlem Nights." He also wrote and starred in the 1930s-set crime-dramedy — which is currently streaming on Starz and Crackle — as a gunslinging nightclub owner. Critics and audiences were wildly divided on the flick, which scored a 21% rotten rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes but an 80% fresh rating with audiences. Eddie also won the Razzie Award for worst screenplay and scored another Razzie Award for worst director. But curiously, "Harlem Nights," which was a hit at the box office, earned an Oscar nomination for best costume design.
Natalie Portman made her feature film directorial debut with 2016's "A Tale of Love and Darkness." She also wrote and starred in the biopic, which is based on Amos Oz's autobiographical novel of the same name. The Israeli drama, which is streaming on Netflix, received mixed reviews from critics but performed well at the indie box office.
John Krasinski made his feature film directorial debut with 2009's "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" — he appeared in the dramedy and also wrote the screenplay, which is based on David Foster Wallace's short-story collection of the same name. But he truly arrived as a writer and director when he delivered 2018's "A Quiet Place," in which he also starred. The sci-fi horror flick was a huge hit with critics and audience alike, scoring an Oscar nomination for best sound editing and spawning an upcoming sequel. Check out the post-apocalyptic thriller on Hulu or Amazon Prime.
Ben Stiller made his feature film directorial debut with 1994's "Reality Bites." A few years later, he co-wrote, directed and starred in the iconic 2001 comedy "Zoolander." He later wrote, directed and starred in the 2016 sequel as well as 2008's "Tropic Thunder." You can rent or buy a digital copy of "Zoolander" on Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube or iTunes.
A few years after she made her feature film directorial debut with "Pitch Perfect 2," Elizabeth Banks directed the 2019 remake of "Charlie's Angels" — she also co-wrote the screenplay and starred as an updated version of Bosley alongside Angels portrayed by Ella Balinska, Naomi Scott and Kristen Stewart. The action flick may not have made much of an impression with critics or at the box office, but it's a developed a bit of a cult following with fans watching at home. You can join their ranks by streaming the remake on Starz.
Seth Rogen made his directorial debut when he teamed up with producing partner Evan Goldberg to helm 2013's "This Is the End." The duo also co-wrote the script, while the "Freaks and Geeks" alum starred as a version of himself in the comedy, which centers around a group of real-life celebs — including James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Jay Baruchel and Danny McBride — who end up weathering the apocalypse during a Hollywood house party. The film, which performed well with critics and at the box office, is currently streaming on TNT. Seth went on to co-write, co-directed and star in 2015's "The Interview."
Edward Norton made his directorial debut with 2019's "Motherless Brooklyn." He also wrote the screenplay, which is based on the 1999 Jonathan Lethem novel of the same name, and starred as a detective with Tourette syndrome in 1950s New York City. The crime-drama is currently streaming across HBO platforms.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt made his feature film directorial debut with 2013's "Don Jon," which is currently streaming on Starz and Prime Video. He also wrote and starred in the rom-com — which performed well with critics and at the box office — as a player with an addiction to adult entertainment who attempts to woo a gorgeous blonde played by Scarlett Johansson.
Barbra Streisand made her directorial debut with 1983's "Yentl." She also co-wrote and starred as the titular aspiring Jewish religious scholar in the musical drama, which won an Oscar for its music and earned four more Academy Award nominations. You can rent or buy a digital copy on Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play or YouTube.
Billy Bob Thornton made his feature film directorial debut with 1997's "Sling Blade," which is currently streaming on Hulu. He also wrote and starred in the drama as a man with intellectual disabilities who renters the world after spending the majority of his life in a psychiatric hospital. His efforts paid off: He won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay and also scored an Academy Award nomination for best lead actor. Billy Bob went on to write, direct and star in 2001's "Daddy and Them" and 2013's "Jayne Mansfield's Car."
Zach Braff made his feature film directorial debut with 2004's "Garden State." He also wrote and starred in the romantic dramedy — which is currently streaming on Starz, Hulu and Amazon Prime — as a struggling actor who begrudgingly returns to his home state to attend his mother's funeral. His hard work paid off: He won the Independent Spirit Award for best first feature and also scored an Indie Spirit Award nomination for best first screenplay. Zach later wrote, directed and starred in 2014's "Wish I Was Here."
Lake Bell wrote, directed and starred as a voice coach and voice-over actress in 2013's "In a World…" The indie comedy, which is currently streaming on Hulu, was a huge hit with critics, scoring a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Lake later wrote, directed and starred in the 2017 comedy "I Do… Until I Don't," which wasn't quite as well received.
Joel Edgerton made his feature film directorial debut with 2015's "The Gift," which is currently streaming on Netflix. The Australian actor also wrote and starred in the psychological thriller — which scored a 91% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes — as a man seeking revenge against a former classmate (Jason Bateman). He later wrote, directed and starred in 2018's "Boy Erased."
Stand-up comedian Whitney Cummings made her directorial debut with 2018's "The Female Brain." She also co-wrote and starred in the ensemble indie film as a neurologist who's given up on love. The comedy is currently streaming on Hulu.
"Kissing Jessica Stein" writer-actress Jennifer Westfeldt made her directorial debut with 2012's "Friends with Kids." She also wrote and starred in the rom-com as a woman who has a baby with her best friend and then realizes she's actually madly in love with him. The ensemble comedy — which features an all-star cast including Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Chris O'Dowd and Jennifer's then-boyfriend, Jon Hamm — is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu and Epix.
