Oscars: Natalie Portman Pays Tribute to Female Directors on Red Carpet – Hollywood Reporter

4:46 PM PST 2/9/2020

by


Lindsay Weinberg

She embroidered the cape of her Dior Haute Couture ensemble with the last names of directors including Scafaria, Wang, Gerwig, Diop, Heller, Matsoukas, Har’el and Sciamma.

Natalie Portman honored snubbed female filmmakers at the 2020 Oscars on Sunday. 

She embroidered the cape of her Dior Haute Couture ensemble with the last names of directors in gold: Scafaria, Wang, Gerwig, Diop, Heller, Matsoukas, Har’el and Sciamma. 

The names reference directors Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Mati Diop (Atlantics), Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Melina Matsoukas (Queen & Slim), Alma Har’el (Honey Boy) and Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire).

None of the women were nominated for best director. The nominees are Bong Joon Ho (Parasite), Sam Mendes (1917), Todd Phillips (Joker), Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) and Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).

Portman previously called out gender inequality in the film industry at the 2018 Golden Globes. She and Ron Howard presented the best director category at the show, when she said, “And here are the all-male nominees.” Insecure creator Issa Rae followed her lead when announcing Oscar nominees this year, saying, “Congratulations to those men” after reading the names.

At the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, host Aubrey Plaza likewise took a jab at the Oscars for not recognizing female directors. She said the Spirit Awards is “so much cooler than the Oscars” because they “recognize female directors … all two of them.” Wang took home the prize for best feature for The Farewell.

Only five women have ever been nominated for the best director Oscar: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties), Jane Campion (The Piano), Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) and Gerwig (Lady Bird). Bigelow became the only female winner in 2010. 

At the 2020 Oscars, Gerwig and partner Noah Baumbach were also notably in Dior Haute Couture, with the Little Women helmer in a strapless forest green silky gown and a statement emerald and diamond necklace. Portman wore the cape over a gold embroidered gown with gold rope belt and Cartier jewelry.