Director Olivia Wilde said Harry Styles "jumped on board" her movie Don't Worry Darling and "blew us away every day with his talent".
Wilde posted her tribute to the former One Direction star after the female-led psychological-thriller finished filming.
She posted a black-and-white picture of Styles in a vintage car to Instagram, and wrote: "Little known fact: most male actors don't want to play supporting roles in female-led films. The industry has raised them to believe it lessens their power (i.e financial value) to accept these roles, which is one of the reasons it’s so hard to get financing for movies focusing on female stories.
"No joke, it is harrrrrd to find actors who recognise why it might be worth it to allow for a woman to hold the spotlight."
Wilde added: "Enter: @harrystyles, our 'Jack’ . Not only did he relish the opportunity to allow for the brilliant @florencepugh to hold centre stage as our 'Alice’, but he infused every scene with a nuanced sense of humanity.
"He didn’t have to join our circus, but he jumped on board with humility and grace, and blew us away every day with his talent, warmth, and ability to drive backwards."
Don’t Worry Darling stars Styles in his second major Hollywood role, alongside Oscar-nominee Pugh and US actor Chris Pine.
The film hit the headlines after Wilde, 36, was romantically linked to Styles, 27.
