Director and lead actor Kenneth Branagh's work techniques for overseeing the filming and crime scene of Murder on the Orient Express at the same time

If you go from acting to directing, will you be close to getting an Oscar?

There are many people who started out as star actors and then became directors, and then continued to work both as an actor and a director. Clint Eastwood is a prime example of this. He has directed 37 feature films to date, and has appeared in 23 of them himself, including cameos. However, in recent years he has focused on directing, and has not appeared in any of his own films since 2008's " Gran Torino ." Now he is "director Eastwood."

Robert Redford follows a similar pattern. Since 1980's Ordinary People , Redford has consistently directed films, though not as prolific as Eastwood. He also often appears in his own films. Mel Gibson also appeared in his own films in the early days, but since Passion of the Christ he has focused on directing and has been gaining recognition as a director. These three, plus Kevin Costner, are all star actors turned directors who have won Academy Awards for Best Director. Unfortunately, Costner hasn't had the opportunity to direct in recent years... Redford and Costner reached Oscars in their first film, while Gibson in his second. Star actors often receive high praise immediately when they become directors.

“Murder on the Orient Express” © 2017Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Woody Allen has also won an Academy Award for Best Director, but in his case, it seems that directing is his main focus, with acting being a secondary role. This is because he rarely appears in films other than his own. There is a steady stream of other star actors who have made the move into directing, including George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Angelina Jolie, and Ben Stiller.

In Japan, there are many talented actors and directors who have been active in both fields, from Kinuyo Tanaka in the past to Naoto Takenaka, Eiji Okuda, and Tomorowo Taguchi in recent years. Although their styles are different, Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) is tempted to be described as the "Japanese Woody Allen." In the film world, he is known as a "director," and his works are highly regarded both at home and abroad, even if they have their ups and downs. This is because he sometimes appears in central roles in his own directorial works.

As an actor, you need to be considerate and sometimes shy.