10 times actors wrote their own scripts and surprised us

While actors are the face of a movie, many people work behind the camera to bring the movie to life. One important role is that of a screenplay writer. Hollywood does not have a dearth of talented writers. However, there have been times when popular actors have tried their hand at writing for a movie. From inspirational stories to creative genius, here are 10 times an actor wrote their own scripts.

---

Mindy Kaling, George Clooney, and other actors who wrote their own scripts

1. Sylvester Stalone – Rocky

Written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, Rocky is one of the most famous sports drama movies. The classic film about a small-time club fighter from Philadelphia, who goes on to fight for the world heavyweight championship, is one of the most famous stories about an underdog proving his mettle. How the movie got made is also a remarkable story. Stalone was broke and trying hard to get work in California. Devoid of any inspiration, he went to see a Muhammad Ali fight, and the idea for the movie struck him. The actor wrote the script for the film on his own and decided to show it to producers when he went to a casting call. He did not get the casting part, but the producers read his script and offered him $360,000 on the condition that someone other than Stalone would play the protagonist in the movie because they wanted a more famous name. However, the actor stayed adamant and wanted to star in the film because he would otherwise feel guilty if the movie became successful and he was not in it. The producers eventually relented and even gave him a $1m budget to make and act in the film. The rest is history, as Stallone became a megastar and the movie was nominated for nine Oscars and eventually won three.

---

2. Nia Vardalos – My Big Fat Greek Wedding

One of the most famous romantic comedies of the early aughts, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, is an iconic movie. The movie is about a Greek-American woman who falls for a non-Greek and must convince her family to accept him while learning about her roots and identity. Written by the protagonist, Nia Vardalos, the actress spoke about how she was rejected by multiple agents and managers because they did not like the scripts and believed that an actor should not write a movie. Even though Nia is herself Greek and knows about her culture, her writing was not accepted. However, Nia persisted and changed her script into a solo stage show. As luck would have it, her play was watched by Rita Wilson, who loved it and believed that it would make a fantastic movie. Rita helped Nia get all the resources and co-produced the film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with her husband, Tom Hanks. Nia even got to star in her own film, and viewers and critics loved it for its authentic portrayal of Greek culture. The movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, spawned several sequels and was nominated for the Oscars.

---

3. Mindy Kaling – The Mindy Project

A classic romantic comedy series, The Mindy Project, is the brainchild of Mindy Kaling, who wrote the scripts and stars in the show. Known for the misadventures of a gynecologist called Mindy Lahiri, the show, The Mindy Project, became famous for its humor and representation of the experiences of South Asian women. The story behind how the show got created is also interesting. Mindy starred in The Office and was inspired to make something of her own. She decided that she would star in the series, but it would revolve around a job that was not a writer's. Mindy decided to take inspiration from her mother’s medical job, which she could relate to, and incorporate doctors' long working hours and chaotic lifestyles into her show. The actress and writer went on to create a super successful show. The show aired for six seasons and has been nominated several times at multiple awards like the Critics’ Choice Television Awards, the People’s Choice Awards, and more.

---

4. Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Fleabag

Fleabag is considered one of the most hilarious and clever comedy-dramas of recent times. The British show revolves around the hilarious and poignant incidents of an unnamed protagonist, who is quirky, unconventional, and is trying to get her personal and professional life together while living in London. Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, she also stars in the titular role and has been praised for her performance and use of the breaking the fourth wall technique to engage audiences and make the character more relatable. However, the writer’s inspiration for the series, Fleabag, came about when Phoebe was at her lowest period and was full of rage. Phoebe never wanted to be the protagonist and always saw it as an expression of who she could be if she did not stop herself. However, Phoebe went on to perform the story at the Edinburgh Fringe festival as a one-woman show and got the opportunity to star in the TV adaptation as well. The show, Fleabag, was successful internationally and was praised for its writing. The show, Fleabag, also received 11 Emmy awards.

---

5. Natalie Portman – A Tale of Love and Darkness

Natalie Portman is an incredibly talented actor and has also proven her worth by writing the scripts for and directing the drama movie, A Tale of Love and Darkness. The movie was Portman’s writing and directing debut, and she also starred in the film. Based on the memoir of Israeli author Amos Oz, the film A Tale of Love and Darkness dealt with the last years of Mandatory Palestine in Jerusalem and the first few years of an independent Israel. Even though the movie got mixed reviews and didn't catch the viewers' attention, the film has heavy themes and a nuanced screenplay, with Portman ably portraying the role of a matriarch in a Palestinian family. The critics appreciated A Tale of Love and Darkness for its direction, plot, and performances. Natalie Portman proved she is multi-talented and could bring a sensitive and complex topic to life on screens.

---

6. Bill Hader – Barry

A cult classic and one of the most famous dark comedy crime dramas of recent times, Barry is known for its clever writing and the incredible performance of Bill Hader, who also wrote the scripts for the show. The show is about Barry, a former US Marine who now works as a hitman. While at a job assignment in Los Angeles, he is fascinated by acting and enrolls himself in an acting class, which makes him disillusioned, and he begins questioning his career choices. The show, Barry, has 44 Emmy nominations and has received universal acclaim for its writing and humor. However, Hader never wanted to play Barry himself. The actor and writer focuses more on the story than creating a role for himself and finds it difficult to build a character. However, HBO sent him a note saying that he had to play the title role, and even though Hader is shy about acting and can’t direct himself, he overcame that when he visited the sets of Better Call Saul. The show is why Hader wrote Barry in the first place, and therefore, Hader’s show has the same dark and violent quality as well. Hader overcame his inhibitions and created a classic show.

---

7. Emma Thompson – Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen’s novels have always been loved by scriptwriters and have been adapted countless times as movies and TV shows. The movie, Sense and Sensibility, is one of her famous works, with powerful and independent female characters. A film was therefore adapted based on the novel, and renowned actress and writer Emma Thompson decided to write the script. At a time when few female characters in cinema had a voice of their own, Emma made sure that she retained the zesty spirit of Austen’s female characters of Sense and Sensibility and even starred in the movie. The film about a pair of sisters, who face sudden poverty and must get married for financial security, was a critical and commercial hit and won multiple nominations in Britain and at the Oscars. As Emma’s first time writing a script, the actress proved her worth as she won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Thompson wrote other screenplays for movies like Nanny McPhee and Bridget Jones’s Baby.

---

8. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo – Bridesmaids

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo wrote the scripts for the movie Bridesmaids at a time when female-led comedies were a rare occurrence in Hollywood. Agents and producers did not believe that women could write humor, and there was a paucity of women-led comedies. However, Wiig and Mumolo decided to change that and wrote a script that revolved entirely around a bunch of women and their adventures. The film, Bridesmaids, focuses on the hilarious exploits of a woman who is asked to be a maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, but is surrounded by jealousies and challenges. Wiig starred in the title role, which was also her first time in a movie, after being a star on SNL for many years. The movie, Bridesmaids, was a critical and commercial hit and was noted for its chaotic comedy, the performances of Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, and started a revolution of women in comedy.

---

9. George Clooney – The Monuments Men

The actor, George Clooney, has proved multiple times that he is an able actor and can also take up the mantle of directing and writing a screenplay. The Monuments Men is a war movie directed and written by George Clooney. Clooney co-wrote the script of The Monuments Men with Grant Heslov. Based on the non-fiction book by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter, the movie is about an allied group of people from the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program, whose responsibility is to save priceless artefacts of art, before the Nazis destroy or steal them during World War II. Even though The Monuments Men received mixed reviews, critics noted its unique premise and the performances of a strong ensemble cast, which included Bill Murray, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett. George Clooney also starred in the movie, and the actor has written the scripts for several other movies like The Ides of March, Suburbicon, and others.

---

10. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck – Good Will Hunting

One of the most influential and inspirational movies of the 20th century, Good Will Hunting, was the brainchild of actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who were unknown at the time. The two combined forces and wrote the scripts about a janitor, Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, who is a mathematical genius and is discovered by a professor at MIT. The movie, Good Will Hunting, was a critical and commercial success and was nominated in nine categories at the Oscars. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon chose to write for the film in a way that would be like a video cassette and serve as their acting reel, they wanted to break into the acting world. The two wanted to showcase their talents and abilities through the reel they created, and therefore presented it in front of casting directors. The duo also kept the production cost low and mainly revolved their movie around talking. However, the rest is history, and Good Will Hunting was a successful hit, and even Robin Williams won praise for his acting.