Lea Thompson reveals brutal reason she turned to directing

Bang Showbiz on Apr 12, 2026

Published in Women

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Lea Thompson turned to directing partly to navigate the limited opportunities available to women as they age in Hollywood.

Describing the move as a way to remain active in an industry she "loves", the 64-year-old actress, known for a career spanning more than four decades that included a key role in Back to the Future, said she began getting behind the camera around 20 years into her time in the industry.

Lea, who has appeared in a huge range of film and television projects, spoke about her decision in an interview with Woman's World, outlining how she anticipated a reduction in roles and sought to maintain creative control over her work.

She said: "Only a small percent of roles in Hollywood go to women over 50, and out of that, the best parts are going to go to the people who have the most awards. A lot of parts are ones I didn't want to do.

"I saw that coming, and I thought, 'How can I stay relevant in this business that I love without having to fight over scraps in the acting world?' So I started directing with the Hallmark TV movie series Jane Doe. Since I was already the star, they were much more inclined to give that work to me, and I really enjoyed it."

Lea directed her first project, Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall, in 2006 and has since built a directing career across television.

Her credits include episodes of Schooled, Mom, The Goldbergs and Will Trent.

Alongside directing, Lea has continued acting, appearing in series including Switched at Birth, The Chicken Sisters and Scorpion.

She said her experience over time had altered her confidence in her own knowledge and role within productions.

Lea added: "It's very easy to think that everybody knows so much more than you do, especially when you're a woman, but after a while, you become the oldest person in the room, and I realised that in having done this for over 40 years, I already knew a lot."

Lea described directing as both a creative challenge and an opportunity to support others in the industry.

She said: "It's also a chance to give back instead of getting bitter because the parts aren't so good. I like to take younger people under my wing and teach them what I know. As we get older, it's important to be mentors and to pass on our knowledge.

"I still love acting, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to act and direct."