Action! Cynthia Nixon, Ian SomerhalderMore TV stars have taken on multiple responsibilities while filming their shows.
Nixon revealed in October 2021, that she directed an episode on And Just Like ThatThe Sex and the CityHBO Max will air revival later in the year. “It’s been a complete dream to work with my beloved co-stars and crew in this new role,” she captioned a celebratory Instagram post at the time. “I have truly never felt so supported in my life. (And don’t worry, Miranda is still going to be in the episode — it was surreal to do both at once!) #AndJustLikeThat.”
Costar Kristin Davis commented that it was “so much fun” to see Nixon take charge on set. “Effortless and insightful and exciting all at once. Hopefully the first of many….🙏,” she added in an Instagram Story.
The actresses worked together previously for six seasons on the original HBO series, 1998-2004. They were both OG stars. Sarah Jessica ParkerThe revival follows three friends as they navigate New York City’s 50s.
While it was Nixon’s first foray into directing her own work, the career move has been popular among plenty of other series regulars. Somerhalder starred on the series and took on the role of director. The Vampire Diaries — as did his onscreen brother, Paul Wesley.
“I’m really grateful that I get to be with my fellow actors who are like my family, and really dig deep and try to find those moments in their characters that mean something to them, not just from a directorial place. This is my show, too, and I want every frame of it to be great,” Somerhalder told Collider in 2016. “I’m just super thankful to the studio, the network, to Julie [Plec]Kevin [Williamson], and to the guys who made all of this happen.”
The Anomaly actor acknowledged that creating more than 20 new episodes each season was a “formidable” task for everyone who was involved in the process.
“With 22 episodes, you’re shooting almost 200 days a year. How do you maintain crew morale, integrity and energy at that level, at that speed, all the time?” he continued. “I think we’ve done a pretty damn good job. This show, despite the fact that it’s a teen vampire soap opera, is one of the best looking shows on TV. I’ve seen other TV shows that are large and successful. But our show looks stunning because we put so much effort into making it feel like a movie. It’s a film experience, and that’s what you want.”
Somerhalder was especially grateful for the chance to see a different side to the series that he had worked on for so many decades. For Sophia BushGetting to direct one the final episodes One Tree HillIt was also an emotional moment.
“I burst into tears and acknowledged what an amazing honor that was to be trusted with that,” she told The Hollywood Reporter2012. “Everything was really important and everything was really valuable. Because I knew it was my last chance to tell these stories, to honor these characters, and to show their relationships. It just felt supremely important.”
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