Actresses Who Have Secretly Written Massive Hollywood Scripts

Behind the glamour of the silver screen, many of Hollywood’s most successful actresses have exerted significant influence through their pens rather than just their performances. While some are celebrated for their screenwriting, others have worked quietly as script doctors, punching up dialogue and structural elements for massive blockbusters without always receiving a front-and-center credit. These women have shaped iconic characters and saved struggling productions, often while simultaneously starring in the projects themselves. From fixing superhero scripts to crafting era-defining comedies, their contributions have left an indelible mark on cinematic history.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher was widely regarded as one of the most prolific script doctors in Hollywood history. She provided uncredited polishes and rewrites for major blockbusters such as ‘Sister Act’, ‘Hook’, and ‘The Wedding Singer’. Her sharp wit and ability to fix dialogue led George Lucas to hire her to punch up the scripts for the ‘Star Wars’ prequel trilogy. Fisher’s work often focused on strengthening female characters and tightening comedic timing. Despite her extensive contributions to these massive hits, her name rarely appeared in the writing credits.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter who famously adapted ‘Sense and Sensibility’ for the big screen. While her credit for that film is public, she also performed significant uncredited writing work on the 2005 version of ‘Pride & Prejudice’. Director Joe Wright brought Thompson in to revise the script to ensure the dialogue felt authentic and the characters resonated with modern audiences. She eventually received a special thanks in the credits rather than a formal screenwriting credit. Her contributions were instrumental in the critical success of the adaptation.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge gained international acclaim for creating and starring in ‘Fleabag’, but her influence extends to the ‘James Bond’ franchise. She was specifically recruited by Daniel Craig to contribute to the script of ‘No Time to Die’ to improve character depth and humor. Her involvement aimed to provide a more contemporary feel to the long-running series and its portrayal of women. While she is credited, her role was essentially that of a high-profile script doctor brought in late in the process. This move marked a significant shift in the creative direction of the massive action production.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek spent years developing the biographical film ‘Frida’ and took on a significant portion of the writing process to get it made. While she is primarily known for her starring role as Frida Kahlo, Hayek performed extensive uncredited rewrites on the script to ensure historical accuracy and emotional depth. She reportedly brought in several collaborators to assist with the polish, but her own contributions were vital to the narrative structure. The film eventually earned six Academy Award nominations, including a Best Actress nod for Hayek. Her determination to control the script’s direction was key to the project’s ultimate success.

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones is well known for her roles in ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Office’, but she also possesses a strong writing background. She was originally hired as a co-writer for the Pixar blockbuster ‘Toy Story 4’ alongside her writing partner Will McCormack. Although she eventually left the project due to creative differences, she retains an original story credit for the film. Her work helped shape the narrative direction of one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. Jones has also written other scripts, including the romantic comedy ‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’.

Nia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos achieved a rare feat by writing the screenplay for ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ after performing the story as a one-woman stage show. The film went on to become the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, despite its modest independent beginnings. Vardalos secured an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for her work on the script. She insisted on starring in the lead role herself, a move that launched her to global stardom. Her success demonstrated the massive potential of personal, character-driven scripts in the Hollywood system.

Emerald Fennell

Emerald Fennell is a multi-talented actress known for her role in ‘The Crown’, but she has also become a powerhouse screenwriter. She served as the showrunner and primary writer for the second season of the hit thriller series ‘Killing Eve’. Fennell later wrote and directed the critically acclaimed ‘Promising Young Woman’, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Her writing is characterized by its dark humor and sharp social commentary on modern gender dynamics. She also contributed to the creative development of the script for the massive hit ‘Barbie’.

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling was the first woman and the first person of color to be hired for the writing staff of the American version of ‘The Office’. While she played the character Kelly Kapoor, she simultaneously served as a writer, executive producer, and director for the series. Kaling wrote many of the show’s most iconic episodes, including ‘The Dundies’ and ‘Niagara’. Her influence on the series’ comedic voice was central to its long-term success and massive cultural impact. She has since gone on to create and write several other major television hits, including ‘The Mindy Project’.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey successfully transitioned from being the first female head writer at ‘Saturday Night Live’ to writing massive Hollywood features. She wrote the screenplay for the 2004 cult classic ‘Mean Girls’, which was based on the non-fiction book ‘Queen Bees and Wannabes’. Fey also took a supporting role in the film as Ms. Norbury while overseeing the production’s creative direction. The film’s enduring popularity and sharp dialogue have made it a staple of modern pop culture. Fey continued her writing success by creating and starring in the award-winning series ’30 Rock’.

Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig is a celebrated comedic actress who made a significant impact on Hollywood with the script for ‘Bridesmaids’. She co-wrote the screenplay with Annie Mumolo, and the film became a massive box-office success and a critical darling. The script was praised for its realistic portrayal of female friendships and broke ground for female-led R-rated comedies. Wiig received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for her work on the project. The film’s success proved that female-centric comedies could achieve massive mainstream appeal.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig began her career in independent films but has since written some of the most massive critical and commercial hits of the decade. She wrote and directed ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘Little Women’, both of which earned her significant awards recognition. Most notably, she co-wrote the screenplay for ‘Barbie’, which became a global phenomenon and the highest-grossing film of 2023. Gerwig’s writing often focuses on the complex internal lives of women and the nuances of their relationships. Her transition from actress to one of Hollywood’s most sought-after writers has been remarkably successful.

Brit Marling

Brit Marling is known for her starring roles in thought-provoking science fiction, but she is also the primary creative force behind her projects. She co-wrote the screenplays for the indie hits ‘Another Earth’ and ‘Sound of My Voice’, both of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Marling later co-created and wrote the massive Netflix series ‘The OA’, where she also played the lead character. Her writing typically explores philosophical themes and complex, non-linear narratives. She maintains a high level of creative control over her work by serving as both the lead actress and the writer.

Issa Rae

Issa Rae rose to prominence with her web series ‘Awkward Black Girl’, which she wrote and starred in herself. This success led her to co-create, write, and star in the massive HBO hit series ‘Insecure’. The show was widely praised for its authentic portrayal of the Black female experience and ran for five successful seasons. Rae’s writing has earned her multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She has since expanded her writing career into film and television production, influencing a new generation of creators.

Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel is an acclaimed actress who gained international fame for writing and starring in the series ‘Chewing Gum’. She followed this success with the massive critical hit ‘I May Destroy You’, which she wrote, directed, and executive produced. The series explored complex themes of trauma and consent, earning her the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series. Coel’s unique voice and uncompromising approach to storytelling have made her one of the most respected writers in the industry. Her ability to balance intense drama with dark humor has defined her body of work.

Ruth Gordon

Ruth Gordon was a celebrated actress known for her Oscar-winning role in ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, but she was also an accomplished screenwriter. Alongside her husband Garson Kanin, she co-wrote several massive hits for MGM during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her most famous writing credits include ‘Adam’s Rib’ and ‘Pat and Mike’, both of which starred Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. These scripts were revolutionary for their time, featuring equal power dynamics and witty banter between male and female leads. Gordon received three Academy Award nominations for her screenwriting before her acting career saw a late-life resurgence.

Tell us which of these actress-writers surprised you the most in the comments.