23 directors who have cast their significant others in their films

Gabbi ShawFeb 23, 2022, 00:08 IST

Maggie Gyllenhaal directed Peter Sarsgaard in "The Lost Daughter."Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Maggie Gyllenhaal directed husband Peter Sarsgaard in the Oscar-nominated "The Lost Daughter."
She joins directors Tim Burton, Angelina Jolie, and John Krasinski, who all cast their partners.

Maggie Gyllenhaal slotted her husband, Peter Sarsgaard, into her 2021 directorial debut, "The Lost Daughter."

Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal in 2021.Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Netflix

Florence Pugh will star in boyfriend Zach Braff's upcoming film "A Good Person."

Zach Braff and Florence Pugh.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

John Krasinski co-starred with his wife, Emily Blunt, in "A Quiet Place," which he also directed. He returned to direct the 2021 sequel, which starred Blunt as well.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski in 2020.Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have co-starred in two movies that Shepard also directed: "Hit and Run" and "CHiPS."

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell in 2017.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

Frances McDormand has appeared in eight of husband Joel Coen's (of the Coen Brothers) films. Most recently, she starred in "The Tragedy of Macbeth" in 2021.

Frances McDormand and Joel Coen in 2021.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Newlyweds Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins collaborated on his film "Windfall," which will be released on Netflix in March 2022.

Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell in 2020.Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

They have since broken up, but Jason Sudeikis had a role in Olivia Wilde's 2018 directorial debut, "Booksmart."

Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde in 2019.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton were frequent collaborators when they were dating, with Carter starring in films like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Sweeney Todd," among others.

Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton in 2013.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton were frequent collaborators when they were dating, with Carter starring in films like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Sweeney Todd," among others.

Tim Robbins directed "Dead Man Walking" in 1995, which led to his then-partner Susan Sarandon's first Oscar win.

Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon in 1996.SGranitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Melissa McCarthy has appeared in every one of her husband Ben Falcone's films.

Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy in 2017.Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Viacom

Angelina Jolie directed Brad Pitt in 2015's "By the Sea," their first time working together since "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." They split soon after.

Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt in 2015.Kevork S. Djansezian/Getty Images

Husband and wife Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann have made film-making a family business, with Apatow also directing his daughters in "Knocked Up" and "This Is 40."

Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow, Iris Apatow, and Maude Apatow in 2018.Jerod Harris/WireImage/Getty Images

Dave Franco cast his wife, Alison Brie, in his 2020 directorial debut, "The Rental."

Dave Franco and Alison Brie in 2020.Amy Sussman/Getty Images

James Gunn's fiancée Jennifer Holland stars in his HBO Max series "Peacemaker," of which he directed five episodes in 2022.

Jennifer Holland and James Gunn in 2021.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

In 1981, Warren Beatty directed his then-girlfriend Diane Keaton in "Reds."

Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton in the late '70s.Sonia Moskowitz/IMAGES/Getty Images

Beatty also directed his wife, Annette Bening, in "Rules Don't Apply" in 2016.

Annette Bening and Warren Beatty in 2016.Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for GQ

Sam Esmail directed his wife, Emmy Rossum, in 2014's "The Comet."

Sam Esmail and Emmy Rossum in 2017.Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Haley Bennett starred in the 2021 musical "Cyrano," directed by her partner, Joe Wright.

Haley Bennett and Joe Wright in 2021.Joe Maher/Getty Images for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures & Universal Pictures

Kate Winslet worked with her then-husband Sam Mendes on "Revolutionary Road" in 2008.

Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes in 2008.Jason Merritt/Getty Images

In 1978, Jane Wagner wrote and directed the film "Moment by Moment," which stars her wife, Lily Tomlin.

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Maya Rudolph has appeared in two Paul Thomas Anderson films, "Inherent Vice" and "Licorice Pizza."

Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig are a directing power couple who frequently work together, like for 2016's "Frances Ha," which Gerwig starred in and Baumbach directed.

Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig in 2020.Dominik Bindl/WireImage/Getty Images

Janicza Bravo directed the 2017 film "Lemon," which starred her then-husband Brett Gelman. The two also co-wrote the screenplay.

Janicza Bravo and Brett Gelman in 2017.Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for PEPSICO Creators League Studios

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23 directors who have cast their significant others in their films

Maggie Gyllenhaal slotted her husband, Peter Sarsgaard, into her 2021 directorial debut, "The Lost Daughter."

Florence Pugh will star in boyfriend Zach Braff's upcoming film "A Good Person."

John Krasinski co-starred with his wife, Emily Blunt, in "A Quiet Place," which he also directed. He returned to direct the 2021 sequel, which starred Blunt as well.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have co-starred in two movies that Shepard also directed: "Hit and Run" and "CHiPS."

Frances McDormand has appeared in eight of husband Joel Coen's (of the Coen Brothers) films. Most recently, she starred in "The Tragedy of Macbeth" in 2021.

Newlyweds Charlie McDowell and Lily Collins collaborated on his film "Windfall," which will be released on Netflix in March 2022.

They have since broken up, but Jason Sudeikis had a role in Olivia Wilde's 2018 directorial debut, "Booksmart."

Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton were frequent collaborators when they were dating, with Carter starring in films like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Sweeney Todd," among others.

Tim Robbins directed "Dead Man Walking" in 1995, which led to his then-partner Susan Sarandon's first Oscar win.

Melissa McCarthy has appeared in every one of her husband Ben Falcone's films.

Angelina Jolie directed Brad Pitt in 2015's "By the Sea," their first time working together since "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." They split soon after.

Husband and wife Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann have made film-making a family business, with Apatow also directing his daughters in "Knocked Up" and "This Is 40."

Dave Franco cast his wife, Alison Brie, in his 2020 directorial debut, "The Rental."

James Gunn's fiancée Jennifer Holland stars in his HBO Max series "Peacemaker," of which he directed five episodes in 2022.

In 1981, Warren Beatty directed his then-girlfriend Diane Keaton in "Reds."

Beatty also directed his wife, Annette Bening, in "Rules Don't Apply" in 2016.

Sam Esmail directed his wife, Emmy Rossum, in 2014's "The Comet."

Haley Bennett starred in the 2021 musical "Cyrano," directed by her partner, Joe Wright.

Kate Winslet worked with her then-husband Sam Mendes on "Revolutionary Road" in 2008.

In 1978, Jane Wagner wrote and directed the film "Moment by Moment," which stars her wife, Lily Tomlin.

Maya Rudolph has appeared in two Paul Thomas Anderson films, "Inherent Vice" and "Licorice Pizza."

Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig are a directing power couple who frequently work together, like for 2016's "Frances Ha," which Gerwig starred in and Baumbach directed.

Janicza Bravo directed the 2017 film "Lemon," which starred her then-husband Brett Gelman. The two also co-wrote the screenplay.