13 April 2026<\/time>\n <\/p>\nLea Thompson turned to directing partly to navigate the limited opportunities available to women as they age in Hollywood.<\/p>\n
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Lea Thompson turned to directing partly to navigate the limited opportunities available to women as they age in Hollywood<\/p>\n
Describing the move as a way to remain active in an industry she \u201cloves\u201d, 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. <\/p>\n
Lea, who has appeared in a huge range of film and television projects, spoke about her decision in an interview with Woman\u2019s World, outlining how she anticipated a reduction in roles and sought to maintain creative control over her work.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cOnly 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\u2019t want to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw that coming, and I thought, \u2018How can I stay relevant in this business that I love without having to fight over scraps in the acting world?\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nLea directed her first project, Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall, in 2006 and has since built a directing career across television. <\/p>\n
\nHer credits include episodes of Schooled, Mom, The Goldbergs and Will Trent.<\/p>\n
\nAlongside directing, Lea has continued acting, appearing in series including Switched at Birth, The Chicken Sisters and Scorpion. <\/p>\n
\nShe said her experience over time had altered her confidence in her own knowledge and role within productions.<\/p>\n
\nLea added: \u201cIt\u2019s very easy to think that everybody knows so much more than you do, especially when you\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nLea described directing as both a creative challenge and an opportunity to support others in the industry. <\/p>\n
\nShe said: \u201cIt\u2019s also a chance to give back instead of getting bitter because the parts aren\u2019t so good. I like to take younger people under my wing and teach them what I know. As we get older, it\u2019s important to be mentors and to pass on our knowledge.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI still love acting, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to act and direct.\u201d<\/p>\n
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