LOS ANGELES 鈥 Chlo茅 Zhao became the second woman to win best director at the Golden Globes and the first female winner of Asian descent on a night in which her film 鈥淣omadland鈥 was crowned the top drama film.
Zhao, who was among three women nominated in the directing category, was
鈥淚 especially want to thank the nomads who shared their stories with us,鈥 Zhao said, accepting the directing
She singled out real-life nomad Bob Wells, who appears in the movie, for help with her remarks.
鈥淭his is what he said about compassion,鈥 Zhao said. 鈥淐ompassion is the breakdown of all the barriers between us. A heart to heart pounding. Your pain is my pain. It鈥檚 mingled and shared between us.鈥
The 38-year-old director who lives in Los Angeles is a leading Oscar contender for 鈥淣omadland,鈥 which is in select
鈥淣ow this is why I fell in love with making movies and telling stories because it gives us a chance to laugh and cry together and it gives us a chance to learn from each other and to have more compassion for each other,鈥 Zhao said in her acceptance remarks. 鈥淪o thank you everyone who made it possible to do what I love.鈥
She joins Barbra Streisand, who won in 1984 for 鈥淵entl,鈥 as the only women to win directing
鈥淪ometimes a first feels like a long time coming. You feel like, it鈥檚 about time,鈥 Zhao said in virtual backstage comments. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure there鈥檚 many others before me that deserve the same recognition. If this means more people like me get to live their dreams and do what I do, I鈥檓 happy.鈥
Regina King ("One Night in Miami...") and Emerald Fennell ("Promising Young Woman") were the other female director nominees.
Zhao also was nominated for best motion picture screenplay and lost to Aaron Sorkin. McDormand received a nod for actress in a motion picture drama, but lost.
Born in China, Zhao made her feature directing debut in 2015 with 鈥淪ongs My Brother Taught Me.鈥 She broke out in 2017 with 鈥淭he Rider.鈥 Next up for her is the big-budget Marvel film 鈥淓ternals,鈥 set for release this fall.
Beth Harris, The Associated Press