Kathryn Bigelow tends toward gritty war dramas and action films, both of which are characterized by their unflinching realism, meticulous attention to detail and immersive cinematography.
She has consistently challenged societal norms and shattered gender barriers, becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director for “The Hurt Locker” (which also won Best Picture) in 2010. That year, she was up against ex-husband James Cameron, who was nominated for “Avatar.”
He said of the night, “I would submit after the fact that she probably enjoyed the evening about 10 percent more than I did. But for me to begrudge not only someone that I’ve loved and believed in winning the best director but also the first woman … Stand back. Let her have her night.
“If I was sitting here now, however many years later, looking at an Oscar that could have been hers, I would be feeling like s**t. I was very happy at how it worked out.”