Actresses Who Have Secretly Written Massive Hollywood Scripts

Beyond their on-screen talent, many successful Hollywood actresses have secretly been powerful forces behind the scenes, using their writing skills to shape films. Some write full screenplays, while others work as anonymous script doctors, improving dialogue and storylines for big-budget movies. These women have often rescued struggling projects and created memorable characters, sometimes even while acting in them. From enhancing superhero films to developing classic comedies, their contributions have had a lasting impact on cinema.

Carrie Fisher

As a huge movie fan, I always knew Carrie Fisher was more than just Princess Leia. She was, quietly, one of the best script doctors in Hollywood! I mean, she secretly polished the scripts for so many big movies – things like ‘Sister Act’, ‘Hook’, and even ‘The Wedding Singer’. Apparently, George Lucas kept bringing her in to make the ‘Star Wars’ prequels funnier and sharper. What I really admired was that she often focused on making the female characters stronger and the comedy really land. It’s a shame her amazing work behind the scenes so rarely got the credit it deserved – you wouldn’t usually see her name in the writing credits, even though she was a key part of those films’ success.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is an Oscar-winning screenwriter known for adapting ‘Sense and Sensibility’ into a successful film. She also secretly helped rewrite the 2005 movie ‘Pride & Prejudice’. Director Joe Wright asked her to refine the script so the dialogue sounded natural and the characters felt relatable to today’s viewers. Though she wasn’t officially credited as a writer, she received a special acknowledgement in the film’s credits, and her work was crucial to the adaptation’s positive reception.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge became well-known worldwide for her work on ‘Fleabag’, and she also helped shape the latest James Bond film, ‘No Time to Die’. Daniel Craig specifically asked her to work on the script to make the characters more complex and add humor. The goal was to update the series and offer a more modern take on its female characters. Though credited as a writer, she primarily functioned as a script consultant brought in near the end of production. This represented a notable change in how the film was being created.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek dedicated years to bringing the film ‘Frida’ to life, and played a crucial role in writing it. Though she’s famous for starring as Frida Kahlo, Hayek secretly revised the script many times to make sure the story was both historically correct and emotionally powerful. She worked with other writers to refine it, but her own input was essential to how the story unfolded. The film went on to receive six Academy Award nominations, and Hayek herself was nominated for Best Actress. Ultimately, her commitment to shaping the script was a major reason the film succeeded.

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones is famous for acting in shows like ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Office’, but she’s also a talented writer. She initially joined the Pixar film ‘Toy Story 4’ as a co-writer with Will McCormack. While she ultimately left the project because of disagreements about the story, she’s still credited as one of the original story creators. Her contributions played a part in developing the story for one of the most successful animated movies ever made. Jones has also written other screenplays, including the romantic comedy ‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’.

Nia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos had a remarkable journey with ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’ She originally developed the story as a solo stage performance and then wrote the screenplay herself. The film became a huge success, eventually becoming the highest-grossing romantic comedy ever, even though it started as a small independent project. Vardalos’s writing earned her an Academy Award nomination, and she also insisted on playing the main character, which propelled her to international fame. Her story proved how powerful personal and character-focused scripts can be in Hollywood.

Emerald Fennell

Emerald Fennell is a talented actress, notably appearing in ‘The Crown’, but she’s also become a successful screenwriter. She led the writing team for the second season of the popular thriller ‘Killing Eve’ and went on to write and direct the highly praised film ‘Promising Young Woman’, earning her an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Her work often features dark humor and insightful observations about relationships and gender roles today. More recently, she contributed to the script for the blockbuster movie ‘Barbie’.

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling broke barriers when she became the first woman and person of color hired as a writer for the American version of ‘The Office’. Not only did she play Kelly Kapoor on screen, but she also worked behind the scenes as a writer, producer, and director. Kaling penned some of the show’s most memorable episodes, like ‘The Dundies’ and ‘Niagara’, and her comedic style was key to its lasting popularity and cultural influence. She’s continued her success by creating and writing other hit shows, including ‘The Mindy Project’.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey started her career as the first female head writer on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and then moved on to write major movies. She wrote the popular 2004 film ‘Mean Girls,’ which was inspired by the book ‘Queen Bees and Wannabes.’ Fey also acted in the movie as Ms. Norbury and helped guide its overall creative vision. ‘Mean Girls’ remains a beloved and frequently quoted film today. She continued to achieve success by creating and starring in the critically acclaimed TV show ’30 Rock’.

Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig is a well-known comedic actress who helped change Hollywood with the hit movie ‘Bridesmaids’. She wrote the screenplay with Annie Mumolo, and the film was both a critical and commercial success. ‘Bridesmaids’ was praised for its honest depiction of female friendships and paved the way for more R-rated comedies starring women. Wiig even received an Academy Award nomination for her writing. The movie proved that comedies focused on women could be hugely popular with a wide audience.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig started her career making independent films, but she’s become one of the decade’s most successful writers, creating both critically acclaimed and commercially popular movies. She wrote and directed the award-winning films ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘Little Women,’ and co-wrote the screenplay for ‘Barbie,’ which became a worldwide sensation and the year’s highest-grossing film. Gerwig’s work often explores the intricate inner worlds of women and the complexities of their connections with others. Her move from acting to becoming a highly requested writer has been incredibly impressive.

Brit Marling

As a big fan of indie and sci-fi films, I’ve always been fascinated by Brit Marling. She’s not just a talented actress – she’s the driving creative force behind so much of what she appears in! You probably know her from films like ‘Another Earth’ and ‘Sound of My Voice,’ which both blew me away when I first saw them at Sundance. Then she really hit it big with ‘The OA’ on Netflix, which she co-created, wrote, and starred in. What I love about her work is that it’s really smart and makes you think, often with these really unique, non-traditional storylines. She clearly has a vision and manages to stay incredibly involved in every aspect of her projects, acting as both the writer and the lead – it’s really impressive.

Issa Rae

Issa Rae first gained recognition with her popular web series, ‘Awkward Black Girl,’ which she both wrote and starred in. This led to her creating, writing, and starring in the acclaimed HBO series ‘Insecure,’ known for its realistic depiction of Black women’s lives. The show ran for five seasons and received widespread praise, and Rae’s writing has been nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards. Since then, she’s broadened her work to include film and television production, inspiring a new wave of creative talent.

Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel is a celebrated actress best known for creating and starring in the comedy series ‘Chewing Gum’. She followed that up with ‘I May Destroy You’, a critically praised show that she not only wrote, but also directed and produced. The series tackled difficult subjects like trauma and consent, and earned her an Emmy Award for its exceptional writing. Coel is highly respected in the industry for her distinctive storytelling style and willingness to address challenging topics. Her work is known for its blend of serious drama and dark humor.

Ruth Gordon

Ruth Gordon was a well-known actress, famously winning an Oscar for her performance in ‘Rosemary’s Baby,’ but she was also a talented screenwriter. Working with her husband, Garson Kanin, she co-wrote several popular films for MGM during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Some of their most notable work includes ‘Adam’s Rib’ and ‘Pat and Mike,’ both starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. These films were ahead of their time, portraying strong, equal relationships and clever dialogue between the male and female leads. Before enjoying a career comeback as an actress, Gordon received three Academy Award nominations for her screenwriting.

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

2026-02-26 00:46