Cynthia Nixon, Ian Somerhalder and More TV Stars Who’ve Directed Episodes of Their Own Shows

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Cynthia Nixon, Ian Somerhalder and More TV Stars Who've Directed Episodes of Their Own Shows

Action! Cynthia Nixon, Ian Somerhalder and more TV stars have taken on more than one responsibility while filming their shows. Nixon revealed in October 2021 that she directed an episode of And Just Like That, the Sex and the City revival set to debut on HBO Max later that year. "It's been a complete dream to work with my beloved co-stars and crew in this new role," she captioned a celebratory Instagram post at the time. "I have truly never felt so supported in my life. (And don't worry, Miranda is still going to be in the episode — it was surreal to do both at once!) #AndJustLikeThat." Costar Kristin Davis commented that it was "so much fun" to see Nixon take charge on set. "Effortless and insightful and exciting all at once. Hopefully the first of many....🙏," she added in an Instagram Story. The actresses previously worked together on the original HBO series for six seasons from 1998 to 2004. They joined OG star Sarah Jessica Parker for the revival, which follows the trio of friends as they navigate New York City in their 50s. [jwplayer LfhwE160-zhNYySv2] While it was Nixon's first foray into directing her own work, the career move has been popular among plenty of other series regulars. Somerhalder took on directing while starring on The Vampire Diaries — as did his onscreen brother, Paul Wesley. "I'm really grateful that I get to be with my fellow actors who are like my family, and really dig deep and try to find those moments in their characters that mean something to them, not just from a directorial place. This is my show, too, and I want every frame of it to be great," Somerhalder told Collider in 2016. "I'm just super thankful to the studio, the network, to Julie [Plec] and Kevin [Williamson], and to the guys who made all of this happen." The Anomaly actor acknowledged that creating more than 20 new episodes each season was a "formidable" task for everyone who was involved in the process. "With 22 episodes, you're shooting almost 200 days a year. How do you maintain crew morale, integrity and energy at that level, at that speed, all the time?" he continued. "I think we've done a pretty damn good job. This show, despite the fact that it's a teen vampire soap opera, is one of the best looking shows on TV. I watch other television shows, that are huge television shows that are very large in size and that do well, and at least our show looks so beautiful because we work so hard at making it feel like a film. It's a film experience, and that's what you want." Somerhalder was particularly grateful for the opportunity to see a different side of the series he worked on for so many years. For Sophia Bush, getting to direct one of the final episodes of One Tree Hill was also an emotional milestone. "I burst into tears and acknowledged what an amazing honor that was to be trusted with that," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2012. "Everything was really important and everything was really valuable. Because I knew that it was the last chance that I was going to have to tell these stories and to honor these characters and to really show their relationships. It just felt supremely important." Scroll down to see more TV stars who've directed episodes of their own shows: [podcast_block]

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Jesse Lee Soffer, ‘Chicago P.D.’

Soffer, who portrayed Detective Jay Halstead on the NBC procedural for eight years before his exit, announced in October 2022 that he would be returning to direct a season 10 episode of the series — just days after his character's departure aired.

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Heather Hemmens, ‘Roswell, New Mexico’

Hemmens, who plays Maria DeLuca on the series, revealed that it was an “absolute honor and a pleasure” to direct the show’s 50th episode as part of season 4. “One of the most beautiful character moments we have ever had on this show was included in this script, and I was humbled to be entrusted with it by @warnerbrostv,” she wrote via Instagram in August 2022. “Written by the incomparable duo @dctolli & @stvstrngr, our stunning cast brought it to life with the magnetism they are so reliable for. I was in awe and tears behind the camera!”

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Elizabeth Gillies, ‘Dynasty’

Gillies, who portrays Fallon Carrington on The CW drama, directed one of the final episodes of season 5. “Had a lot of fun with this one,” she wrote via Instagram in August 2022.

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Michael Trevino, 'Roswell, New Mexico'

The California native made his TV directing debut for the ninth episode of the sci-fi show's 4th season, titled "Wild Wild West."

"I’ve been shadowing all the directors on our series since the pilot, since Julie Plec directed our pilot, and I made it a point to communicate clearly, if this show goes for multiple seasons, at some point, I’d really like the opportunity to direct," Trevino told TV Insider in August 2022, a few days ahead of the episode's release.

He continued, "I learned a lot. Being on set as an actor, I’m always trying to just see what every department is doing. And this was the season that they finally gave me a shot."

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Jason George, 'Station 19'

After playing Dr. Benjamin Warren for 5 seasons, George made his directorial debut in May 2022.

"Somebody said that #georgeclooney once said that the key to #directing yourself was to give yourself less takes than the other actors — to be harder on yourself," the ABC star wrote via Instagram. "Sooo….I yelled at myself harder than anyone else."  

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Milo Ventimiglia, 'This Is Us'

During his time playing Jack Pearson on This Is Us, Ventimiglia directed three episodes of the NBC series.

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Josh Dallas, 'Manifest'

The Once Upon a Time alum teased via Instagram in March 2022 that he was gearing up to direct the seventh episode of Manifest’s fourth season, adding a “grateful” hashtag to his post.

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Camrus Johnson, 'Batwoman'

After playing Luke Fox for three seasons of the CW superhero series, Johnson stepped behind the camera for season 3, episode 11.

"Well, it warms the heart of this black boy from the middle-of-nowhere, Georgia to announce: I just wrapped on Directing my first episode of television. 💙🎡☔️," Johnson shared via Instagram in December 2021.

After the episode aired in February 2022, the star-turned-director told Entertainment Weekly that he was "so proud" of his work — and stoked to get to tell a story involving the villainous Marquis Jet (Nick Creegan), a.k.a. Joker 2.0. "I got lucky and I'm very blessed," he said. "[The producers] must know the Joker is my favorite villain because they really made this a Joker-heavy episode."

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Chris Sullivan, ‘This Is Us’

The actor — who's portrayed Toby on the NBC drama since its 2016 debut — directed the fifth episode of the show's final season. "What a dream! 
," he wrote via Instagram as the episode aired in February 2022.

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Manish Dayal, 'The Resident'

After making his directorial debut in 2018 with the short film Fifteen Years Later, Dayal stepped behind the camera once again in 2021 while working on The Resident. The actor, who plays Devon Pravesh on the procedural drama, announced in December 2021 that he is directing season 5, episode 14.

“For the culture. Decades in the making 🙏🏽 #director #TheResident #Episode14,” Dayal captioned an Instagram photo of the script.

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Mandy Moore, 'This Is Us'

The singer made her directorial debut with a season 6 episode of the NBC drama, telling ET that the challenge was "such a dream" to see through.

"The fact that I get to do [Chrissy Metz's] episode, and the final telling of a very important chapter in her life, [it's great]," Moore said of directing a Kate-focused epsiode. "There's such a difference between sitting behind a monitor and watching a monitor, versus being in a scene with someone. I've been working with Chrissy for six years now, and I was watching her on a monitor doing a scene the other day and I was just [wowed]. It blows my mind how good these friends of mine are at what they do. I have a whole new appreciation."

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Cynthia Nixon, 'And Just Like That'

Nearly two decades after Sex and the City's finale, Nixon returned to her role as Miranda Hobbes — and took on a new one as director. "It was surreal to do both at once!" she wrote via Instagram in October 2021.

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Ian Somerhalder, 'Vampire Diaries'

Along with playing Damon Salvatore, the CW star directed three episodes of the supernatural series. "We know this show better than anyone, and we have the mutual respect of one another. ... I'm going to make sure, from the actor's standpoint, that they can walk away and be proud of it," he told Collider in 2016 of pulling double duty.

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Sophia Bush, 'One Tree Hill'

The California native "burst into tears" when she was asked to take control of the penultimate episode of the WB drama, which ended in 2012.

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Jennifer Garner, 'Alias'

The season 4 episode directed by Garner — titled "In Dreams" — marked a major turning point in the series.

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Patricia Arquette, 'Medium'

The actress, who starred as Allison DuBois on the NBC drama, was given the chance to direct two season 5 episodes, including "A Person of Interest," and has since advocated for more women taking on roles behind the camera.

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Giacomo Gianniotti, 'Grey's Anatomy'

"Time sure does fly when you're having fun," the actor captioned a February 2021 Instagram reveal as he prepared to direct a season 17 episode. He left the show soon after.

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David Schwimmer, 'Friends'

Throughout his 10 seasons on the sitcom, Schwimmer helmed 10 episodes, including "The One With the Truth About London."

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Mindy Kaling, 'The Office'

Not only did Kaling star in and write for the NBC comedy, but she also directed the 2010 episode "Body Language" and 2011's "Michael's Last Dundies." She went on to create, produce and star in The Mindy Project from 2012 to 2017 before creating Netflix's Never Have I Ever.

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Melissa Fumero, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'

The Golden Globe winner directed an episode titled "Return of the King," which originally aired in 2019. "It was a great reminder of how hard our crew works," she said in a YouTube video at the time. "And also another good reminder of how incredible this cast is."

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Ellen Pompeo, 'Grey's Anatomy'

After 12 years as Meredith Grey, the ABC star gave directing her best shot for the first time in 2017 for season 13's "Be Still, My Soul." She told The Hollywood Reporter at the time, "I have a very specific vision and I see a lot of things that people miss, so I started thinking about it, and it's hard to say no to Debbie Allen. ... I just have to try it once and if I don't like it, I don't have to do it again."

Pompeo eventually went on to direct season 14's "Old Scars, Future Hearts."

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Amy Poehler, 'Parks and Rec'

When Leslie Knope faced off against Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd) in 2012's "The Debate," Poehler worked on both sides of the camera.

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Emmy Rossum, 'Shameless'

The actress, who portrayed Fiona Gallagher, directed two episodes before she announced in 2018 that she was leaving the series after nine seasons.

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Neil Patrick Harris, 'HIMYM'

Harris starred in over 200 episodes of the CBS sitcom and made his directorial debut in 2010 with season 5's "Jenkins."

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Bryan Cranston, 'Breaking Bad'

Throughout his tenure as Walter White, the Emmy winner was given the chance to direct three episodes: "Blood Money," "No Más" and "Seven Thirty-Seven." He told AMC's Breaking Bad blog in 2009, "The thing that you have to be cautious about when you're directing yourself is when you're in a scene, you can't watch the other actors, so you need to make sure you're getting what you need."