Greta Gerwig is back on the big screen this week as she reunites with director Noah Baumbach for Frances Ha.
Gerwig has been making a name for herself in recent years with TV and film projects; but it seems that she is going to be a force behind the camera as well as in front of it.
After studying English and philosophy at university, it seemed that Gerwig was destined for a career as a playwright… but then she landed her first acting role in LOL.
From then she has gone on from strength to strength as an actress; however she has never left her writing roots behind her, as she has continued to pen projects.
Those writing talents were on showed in 2007 when starred in and wrote Hannah Take the Stairs; it was a project from mumblecore film.
She went one step further in 2008 as she made her directorial debut with Nights and Weekends; a project that she also co-wrote and starred in.
She shared directing duties with Joe Swanberg on the film, which follows the trails and tribulations of a long distance relationship.
While none of these projects were huge hits for the actress it allowed her to act, write and direct; not to mention hone her craft in the process.
It was 2010 when she really made her breakthrough when she landed the role of Florence Marr in Noah Baumbach’s film Greenberg.
The movie saw Gerwig team up with Ben Stiller in a movie that followed Roger Greenberg; a man who returns to L.A. to figure out what he wants to do with his life.
Greenberg was a hit with the critics and was nominated for the Golden Bear Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Gerwig also picked up a string of nominations for her performance; including Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Best Breakthrough Performance at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.
While Gerwig was on many people’s ‘ones to watch lists’ at the beginning of 2011 she continued to work on independent projects as Northern Comfort and the Dish & the Spoon all followed.
In the spring of 2011 she made her most mainstream movie yet, as she teamed up with funny man Russell Brand and Oscar winner Helen Mirren for a remake of Arthur.
She continued to mix and match her roles that she as she went from Arthur to Damsels in Distress before tackling TV project China, IL.
She reunites with Baumbach this week as they teamed up to pen the screenplay for Frances Ha; she will also take on the central role in the movie.
The movie follows Frances Ha, a twenty seven year old dancer who is trying to figure out her life and who/what she wants to be.
Baumbach is a director who really seems to know how to get the best out of this actress, and Frances Ha looks set to another great performance from Gerwig.
And Gerwig and Baumbach will be back working together next year, as the actress is set to lead the cast of an as yet untitled film.
But don’t just look out for Gerwig on the big screen next year as she revealed to us in an exclusive interview that she will also be working on behind the camera projects over the next twelve months or so.
Read our full Greta Gerwig interview as she chats about Frances Ha, working with Noah Baumbach and what lies ahead.
Gerwig really is a rising talent and it seems that she is going to be a threat as a writer and director as well as an actress… watch this space!!
Frances Ha is released 26th July.
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