We all know of the actors that are displayed on screen in Hollywood productions. We become familiar with them because they are the faces and personas we see in our minds who represent these amazing movies and television shows. But the reality is that those actors only represent a whole team of talented individuals who make these huge productions come together so well. One of the most essential roles in Hollywood films and TV shows is the director. Over the course of the last three decades, we have witnessed a considerable influx of female directors, creating and directing amazing content. These applaudable women are indicative of a major shift in Hollywood towards a more inclusive set and crew, and a behind the scenes culture that is host to an array of female talent across every role and facet of film and television production. This list could last all day long, but we’ve curated just a few of the inspiring woman directors making strides in Hollywood. Here are 6 most powerful girl bosses in Hollywood.
Ava DuVernay
A Compton native, Ava DuVernay has become one of the most esteemed and sought after directors in the 21st century. She has used her childhood and experience in Compton to create compelling narratives that represent and uplift black culture. She has directed films like, Middle of Nowhere, and I Will Follow. She was even asked to direct Marvel’s blockbuster film Black Panther, but continued on in the vein of civic justice by directing the documentary 13th. She also directed A Wrinkle in Time and the award nominated Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic, Selma.
Catherine Hardwicke
With the release Thirteen in 2003, Catherine Hardwicke made her debut as a director. She received national acclaim for the film and won Sundance Film Festival’s Dramatic Directing Award, amongst other award nominations. She has directed The Nativity Story, UK romantic comedy Miss You Already, and the wildly popular romantic vampire series Twilight.
Dee Rees
Dee Rees is a screenwriter and director who has made some very important and meaningful films in the canon of black films. She made her directorial debut with her first feature-length film, a documentary called Eventual Salvation. She also directed Pariah and Bessie, as well as Mudbound and The Last Thing He Wanted. She has directed episodes for several television series as well, including Empire and When We Rise.
Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Bigelow is considered to be a very versatile director. Having directed hits like The Loveless, Near Dark, Zero Dark Thirty, and Detroit. She has directed everything from military dramas and crime dramas to western horror and surfer thrillers — there may just not be a genre of film that Kathryn Bigelow can not direct, and direct successfully at that. She is an award winning director, having won Oscars for both Best Picture and Best Director for her military drama The Hurt Locker, released in 2009.
Sofia Coppola
She wasn’t well-received initially for her performance in The Godfather: Part III, which was directed by her father, iconic director Francis Ford Cappola. But she later showed that her true talent was in directing. She initially started with short film Lick the Star, and The Virgin Suicides. She made a name for herself officially with the release of the off-beat romcom Lost in Translation. Sofia Coppola had even more success with later films like, The Bling Ring, Marie Antoinette, and The Beguiled.
Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling is known for some of the most outlandish comedies from the last few decades. She directed Fast Times at Ridgemont High and National Lampoon’s European Vacation. She also directed Look Whoo’s Talking and Look Who’s Talking Too. She really hit a home run with the popular teen movie Cluless.
