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Reese Witherspoon -

When she's not acting, Reese Witherspoon is the boss of Hello Sunshine, a media company she co-founded in 2016 on the back of her production company Pacific Standard, which was established in 2012. The company saw successes with productions like 'Gone Girl' (2014), and the series 'Big Little Lies,' 'Little Fires Everywhere,' and 'The Morning Show.' In August 2021, the actress has sold the company to Blackstone for a whopping US$900 million. "Today marks a tremendous moment for Hello Sunshine," the actress said in a press release. "I started this company to change the way all women are seen in media. Over the past few years, we have watched our mission thrive through books, TV, film and social platforms." She will join the new media company's board and remain involved in its day-to-day functioning, but she hopes this sale "will enable us to tell even more entertaining, impactful and illuminating stories about women's lives globally," she said.

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Will Smith -

Will Smith founded Overbrook Entertainment in 1998. Both a film production company and record label, Overbrook Entertainment's successes include 'Ali' (2001), 'The Pursuit of Happyness' (2006), and 'Hancock' (2008).

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George Clooney -

George Clooney's production company SmokeHouse Pictures has produced a collection of big-screen hits including 'The American' (2010) and 'The Ides of March' (2011), both of which feature the actor. Smokehouse Pictures co-produced Ben Affleck's 'Argo' (2012) and more recently 'The Midnight Sky' (2020), again starring Clooney.

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Clint Eastwood -

Malpaso Productions was established in 1967 by Clint Eastwood for his film 'Hang 'Em High' (1968). Every movie Eastwood has made since has been produced by Malpaso, including Oscar winners 'Unforgiven' (1992) and 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004).

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Idris Elba -

English actor Idris Elba launched Green Door Pictures in 2014, ostensibly to develop projects for UK audiences. Green Door Pictures has also entered into a joint venture with Archery Pictures to work together on select future film and TV projects. The British comedy-drama 'In the Long Run' (2018 –present), produced by Green Door Pictures, is loosely based on Elba's childhood.

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Salma Hayek -

In 1999, Salma Hayek established Ventanarosa Productions and initially  concentrated on producing Spanish-language films, including 'El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba' (1999), based on a Gabriel García Marquez novella. In 2002, she co-produced and starred in the award-winning 'Frida.' Incidentally, Hayek is the one who brought 'Ugly Betty' to US television audiences in 2006, after Ventanarosa adapted it from the original Colombian telenovela, 'Yo Soy Betty La Fea.'

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Brad Pitt -

Three of Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment-produced movies, 'The Departed' (2006), '12 Years a Slave' (2013), and 'Moonlight' (2016) have won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The company was founded in 2001.

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Viola Davis -

Viola Davis is the co-founder, along with husband Julius Tennon, of JuVee Productions. When she's not appearing in front of the camera, the Academy Award winner is busy behind the scenes creating projects with ABC Studios for the network's broadcast, cable, and streaming services.

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Leonardo DiCaprio -

Appian Way Productions was founded in 2004 by Leonardo DiCaprio. Pictures produced by the company include 'The Aviator' (2004), 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013), and the Oscar-winning 'The Revenant' (2015).

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Charlize Theron -

Denver & Delilah Productions, founded in 2003 by Charlize Theron, involves itself with projects both for film and TV, focusing on sometimes unscripted stories that might be otherwise overlooked. Among the movies the company has co-produced is 'A Private War' (2018), which follows journalist Marie Colvin (Rosamund Pike) on her fateful assignment to war-torn Syria. Denver & Delilah Productions is also among the companies responsible for David Fincher's Netflix series 'Mindhunter' (2017–2019).

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Morgan Freeman -

Besides a hugely successful film career, Morgan Freeman is highly regarded in documentary and television circles. His production company, Revelations Entertainment, was founded in 1996. Film credits include co-producing Clint Eastwood's 'Invictus' (2009) and National Geographic's 'The Story of God with Morgan Freeman' (2016–present).

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Margot Robbie -

Australian actress Margo Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment production company specializes in female-focused film and television production. Launched in 2014, its first release, the figure-skating movie 'I, Tonya' (2017), garnered a slew of awards and nominations.

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Oprah Winfrey -

Harpo Productions ("Harpo" is "Oprah spelled backwards) is the production company Oprah Winfrey founded in 1986. The company helps develop film, television, and radio productions, including those created for the media mogul's Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) multinational cable channel.

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Robert DeNiro -

TriBeCa Productions, the film and television production company co-founded by Robert DeNiro in 1989, is a part of Tribeca Enterprises, which organizes the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, among other enterprises. The company has produced numerous pictures, including 'Cape Fear' (1991), 'Wag the Dog' (1997), and 'The Irishman' (2019).

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Halle Berry -

Founded in 2014, 606 Films is Halle Berry's production company. Primarily focused on producing "socially conscious" work, 606 Films emerged from Berry's attachment to the CBS science fiction drama 'Extant' (2014–2015).

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Spike Lee - Spike Lee founded 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks in 1979, which has since 1983 produced more than 35 films, including 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) and 'BlacKkKlansman' (2018).

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Laurence Fishburne -

Lawrence Fishburne's Cinema Gypsy Productions is responsible for producing numerous film and television projects, including 'Akeelah and the Bee' (2006) and the hit TV comedy series 'Black-ish' (2014–present). Cinema Gypsy Productions also produces the 'Black-ish' spinoffs 'Grown-ish' (2018–present) and 'Mixed-ish' (2019–present).

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Sandra Bullock -

Sandra Bullock's decision to establish Fortis Films was motivated by the actress' desire to find good roles for herself and gain creative control over the way projects evolve. She's subsequently been able to produce many of the movies she's starred in, productions that include the cult hit 'Miss Congeniality' (2000).

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Ben Stiller -

Red Hour Productions was created by Ben Stiller in 1998 after the actor had directed several films but who then took the decision to juggle acting with producing. However, he kicked off his new responsibilities big time by directing, producing, and appearing in the box-office smash 'Zoolander' (2001). Red Hour Productions continues to work in film and television projects.

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Queen Latifah -

In 2014, Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment production company signed an exclusive programming partnership with Centric to rebrand the cable TV channel as the first network designed for the Black woman.

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Adam Sandler -

Founded by Adam Sandler in 1999, Happy Madison Productions has produced nearly 40 pictures, many featuring Sandler in starring or supporting roles. Happy Madison Productions' 2019 release 'Murder Mystery,' which costars Jennifer Aniston, broke the record for Netflix’s biggest opening weekend.

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Alicia Vikander -

Swedish actress Alicia Vikander set up Vikarious Productions in 2016. The company's first film was 'Euphoria' (2017), which stars Vikander along with Eva Green and Charlotte Rampling.

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Don Cheadle - Don Cheadle's Crescendo Productions co-produced 'Miles Ahead' (2016), a biographical drama centered on the life and career of jazz musician Miles Davis, who is portrayed by the actor. It was Cheadle's directorial debut. Crescendo Productions had earlier been involved with the award-winning 'House of Lies' (2012–2016), the hit TV comedy in which Cheadle starred.

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Natalie Portman -

Natalie Portman launched Handsomecharlie Films, her own production company, because "[...] I wanted to have the ability to create my own projects and support filmmakers I believe in. Also, I wasn't always finding the roles I wanted to work on," she revealed to Entertainment Weekly.

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Sofía Vergara -

In 1994, Colombian actress Sofía Vergara co-founded what would become the premier Hispanic talent management agency in the United States, Latin World Entertainment (LWE). Essentially serving as Hollywood’s gatekeeper to the lucrative Latin show business market, LWE numbers film and television production and content development among its core responsibilities.

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Ice Cube -

Rapper, actor, and filmmaker Ice Cube ventured into movie production in 1995, and founded Cube Vision three years later. The company's credits include 'Barbershop' (2002) and the acclaimed 'Straight Outta Compton' (2015).

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Shah Rukh Khan -

Red Chillies Entertainment is behind some of the most successful movies to come out of Bollywood. At the helm is actor Shah Rukh Khan, one of the biggest names in Indian cinema. Included in the nearly 30 films Red Chillies Entertainment has produced is 'Chennai Express' (2013)—at the time the highest-grossing Bollywood film, both in India and around the world.

Sources: (Essence) (Variety) (Shadow and Act) (Deadline) (The Guardian) (Business Wire) (Entertainment Weekly) (The Financial Express)

See also: Actors who got into directing

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