Chloé Zhao's award-winning streak reached its peak at the Academy Awards tonight.
The Nomadland filmmaker won the Oscar for Best Director, making history as the first woman of color and the second woman ever to claim the title. Catherine Bigelow previously took home the trophy for The Hurt Locker in 2010. Zhao, who was born in China, is also the first woman to receive four Academy Awards nominations in the same year: Best Picture, Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay are her other three.
In her acceptance speech, Zhao quoted a classic Chinese text that she and her father used to recite when she was young. It translates to, "People at birth are inherently good." Zhao explained that the quote "had such a great impact on me when I was a kid. And I still truly believe that today, even though sometimes it might seem like the opposite is true. But I have always found goodness in the people I've met everywhere I went in the world."
She continued, "So this is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold onto the goodness in themselves and to hold onto the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that. This is for you. You inspire me to keep going. Thank you."
This marked the first time two women were nominated for Best Director, with Zhao and Emerald Fennell, who helmed Promising Young Woman, in the running. Before them, only five women had ever been nominated in the category in Oscars history: Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties, 1976), Jane Campion (The Piano, 1993), Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, 2003), Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, 2009), and Gerwig (Lady Bird, 2017).
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
-
J.Crew x Catbird Will Take Over Your Summer Jewelry Stack
The new collab is the prettiest addition to your wardrobe.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Anne Hathaway Provides a Much-Awaited Update on Sequels for Two of Her Most Popular Movies
There's some good news, and there's some bad news.
By Fleurine Tideman Published
-
Meghan Markle’s New Podcast with Lemonada Media Is Reportedly Delayed “Until Next Year At the Earliest”
There’s a reason for the holdup.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
A Definitive Ranking of Margot Robbie’s Top 10 Movie Roles
She's got a knack for playing complex women.
By Andrea Park Published
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
By Andrea Park Published
-
The 'Barbie' Movie Poster Is Already This Year's Most Iconic Meme
Your daily dose of internet comedy.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Documentaries About Black History to Educate Yourself With
Take your allyship a step further.
By Bianca Rodriguez Published
-
The 60 Best Musical Movies of All Time
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell Last updated
-
The Unstoppable Alia Bhatt
Bollywood’s silver-screen darling is both at the top of her game and just getting started.
By Neha Prakash Published
-
35 Nude Movies With Porn-Level Nudity
Lots of steamy nudity ahead.
By Kayleigh Roberts Last updated
-
'Princess Diaries 3' Is Happening, And I Absolutely Won't "Shut Up" About It
What about Anne Hathaway, though?
By Iris Goldsztajn Published