Female directors in Hollywood are still few and far between, and these 5 stars have all commented on the need for more women behind the cameras. Some have decided to direct and have spoken on what the experience made them realise, while others are simply fighting the sexism they encounter as they work in the film industry and believe women deserve more roles.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina points out that she is the first woman to direct her husband Brad Pitt: “I just think that sometimes people in the business focus on the fact that you’re a minority. I don’t want people saying, ’Should we get a female director?’ I want to hear, ’Should we get a great director for this movie?’ But I’m the first female director that Brad’s ever worked with. That doesn’t seem right when you think about it.”
Emma Watson
Emma has only worked with two female directors and says Hollywood is still sexist: “I have experienced sexism in that I have been directed by male directors 17 times and only twice by women. Of the producers I’ve worked with 13 have been male and only one has been a woman. But I am lucky: I have always insisted on being treated equally and have generally won that equality.”
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten says it’s harder for women to direct because they face more criticism: “Yeah. I think it’s easier for mediocre male directors to be in this industry. As a female you can be a director, but you have to be amazing – that’s the disparaging part to it. You have to be really great to get in there.”
Natalie Portman
Natalie, who directed film ‘A Tale of Love and Darkness’ says she remembers when women were criticised for stepping behind the camera and she believes they’re rarely taken seriously: “I remember as a kid when Barbra Streisand would make movies that she was in and people would say, ‘oh it’s vanity, it’s a vanity thing’.”
Rose McGowan
Rose, who has directed ‘Dawn’, asks people to support female directors: “I ask you to take up the hand of the female director until we no longer say ‘female director.’ It is a unisex term. I am a director. Jennifer Kent is a director. Let’s do smart, let’s bring it. She did. I think she’s thrown down the gauntlet. When they say, ‘Oh, the box office is down,’ it’s perhaps because we don’t need more fucking superhero movies! It’s time. It’s getting a little old and Jennifer is a wonderful, dedicated director and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”
