“There was a choice of being a director who's more familiar with the technicality of doing a movie, like learning about the camera and filters and setup, or being a director who can actually talk to actors. And I always wanted to be an actor's director.”

German-Palestinian-American filmmaker and martial artist

Lexi Alexander, born Alexandra Mirai, is a German-Palestinian-American filmmaker and martial artist. Active in the 2000s and beyond, she first worked as a stunt performer before moving into directing. She is known for her debut short film, Johnny Flynton, which earned an Academy Award nomination. She later directed Green Street, a crime drama centered on British football hooliganism, and Punisher: War Zone, an adaptation of the Marvel Comics character. Her background in karate-point fighting and kickboxing shaped an unusual path into film, and her work reflects both action training and an interest in physical conflict on screen.