Tom Hooper says he prefers being behind the camera because he wouldn't want to be in the spotlight all of the time like actors.
Hooper returned to the director's chair last month with his big screen adaptation of hit musical Les Miserables - a movie that has been an enormous success.
And while he admits that he likes some of the attention he wouldn't want it all of the time.
Speaking to the Press Association the actor said: "The joy about being a director is that when your film comes out you possibly get stopped a little bit, but within three months you can go back to being completely anonymous.
"And then you wait for the next one to come out and you'll have a brief moment where people will recognise you. So it's kind of great because if you're a famous actor that process never stops."
"I think I chose to be behind the camera because I didn't want that. I always wanted to be the person behind the scenes."
Les Miserables has been a critical and commercial hit and currently sits at the top of the UK box office.
The film is up for a handful of Baftas this weekend and will battle it out for major Oscars in a couple of weeks time.
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