Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow (born 27.1.1951)

Kathryn Bigelow is an Academy Award-winning American film director.

Kathryn Bigelow: Childhood

Kathryn Bigelow was born in San Carlos, in California. She first became involved in film through her work as a painter. Bigelow then earned a master's degree from the graduate film program at Columbia University, where she studied theory and criticism. Among her tutors there were Susan Sontag and Vito Acconci.

Kathryn Bigelow: Career in Film

The Set-Up, in 1978, was Bigelow's debut short film. Her debut full-length feature was 1982's The Loveless, which she co-directed with Monty Montgomery. Five years later, Bigelow directed Near Dark, which she also co-scripted with Eric Reid.

Reid and Bigelow worked together again in 1990 on Blue Steel, which starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Ron Silver. The following year, Bigelow directed Point Break, staring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. The film was produced by Bigelow's ex-husband, James Cameron.

In 1995, Kathryn Bigelow directed Strange Days, which was also produced (and written) by James Cameron. Strange Days starred Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Lewis and Angela Bassett. 2000's Weight of Water was based in the novel by Anita Shreve and the film version starred Elizabeth Hurley and Sean Penn.

Two years later, Bigelow directed K-19: the Widowmaker, with Harrison Ford in the lead role and also starring Liam Neeson. K19: the Widowmaker was a low point in Bigelow's career and was seen by many as her downfall as a director. It would be seven years until Bigelow found herself back in the director's chair.

However, when Kathryn did return to work as a director, her reputation took a dramatic upturn, with the release of The Hurt Locker. The film was first shown at the Venice Film Festival in September 2008. The lead actors of the film are Brian Geraghty, Anthony Mackie and Jeremy Renner. Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes and David Morse also have cameo roles in the film. Bigelow has received a number of accolades for her directorial work on The Hurt Locker. She became the first woman to receive the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on the film. Early in 2010, Kathryn Bigelow received an Oscar nomination for Best Director, becoming only the fourth woman in film history to earn that accolade. Before her, were Lina Wertmüller (for Seven Beauties), Jane Campion (for The Piano), and Sofia Coppola (for Lost in Translation).

Kathryn Bigelow: Other works

Kathryn Bigelow directed the music video for New Order's 'Touched by the Hand of God' in 1987.

In 1983, Kathryn Bigelow played the role of a newspaper editor in Lizzie Borden's 1983 film Born in Flames.

Kathryn Bigelow: Personal Life

Between 1989 and 1991, Kathryn Bigelow was married to the Oscar-winning film director James Cameron. Both directors were nominated for the same award at the 2010 Academy Awards.