Oscars 2020: Natalie Portman's Dior Cape Calls Out Academy For 0 Nominations For Female Directors

Oscars 2020: This year’s ceremony at the legendary Dolby Theatre have been marred by criticism ranging from being ‘too white’ to ‘too male’. While many have been talking about it under their breath, Hollywood star Natalie Portman decided to take things in her hands. Calling out the Academy for the ‘ZERO’ nominations for the women directors, Portman donned a stunning Dior cape with names of all women directors who have been snubbed at the Oscars. Her red carpet outing has instantly gone viral with many lauding her for making a brave statement. Kathryn Bigelow remains the only woman to ever win best director at the Oscars.

natalie portman embroidered her dior dress with the names of the female directors that weren’t recognized for their hard work omg we love women supporting women #oscars pic.twitter.com/3xZCgR4ppF

— cin (@minyardists) February 10, 2020

The United Nations also took note of the significant ommission: 

Here are all the women who have been nominated for the best director category at the #Oscars since the first #AcademyAwards:

1977: Lina Wertmüller

1994: Jane Campion

2004: Sofia Coppola

2010: Kathryn Bigelow (ðŸÂ†)

2018: Greta Gerwig

2020:

— UN Women (@UN_Women) February 10, 2020

This year’s best director nominations overlooked names such as Greta Gerwig (‘Little Women’), Lorene Scafaria (‘Hustlers’) and Lulu Wang (‘The Farewell’). The Academy nominated Martin Scorsese ("The Irishman"), Todd Phillips ("Joker"), Sam Mendes ("1917"), Quentin Tarantino ("Once upon a Time... in Hollywood") and Bong Joon Ho ("Parasite") in the best director category. This is not the first time the ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ star threw a major shade at the Academy. Two year ago, while presenting the Oscars, Portman introduced the category saying, "...and here are the all-male nominees."

The entertainment award shows have become a stage for the A-listers for highlighting several pressing issues. After winning the acclaimed Baftas for ‘Joker’, Joaquin Phoenix had slammed the "systemic racism" and "oppression" within the film industry in his acceptance speech. "I feel very honoured and privileged... but I have to say that I also feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don't have that same privilege," Phoenix said. "I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you're not welcome here, I think that's the message that we're sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from."

Talking about representation, for the first time in the history of Academy Awards, a woman conducted the Oscars' 42-piece orchestra.  Irish composer and conductor Eimear Noone, known for her work on the soundtracks for Overwatch and World Of Warcraft, was seen officiating the host-less ceremony. 

Hollywood star Laura Dern couldn't have asked for a better birthday present than an Oscar as she won her maiden Academy Award in the best supporting actress category for her role in "Marriage Story". The actor, who turns 53 on Monday, won the Oscar for playing Nora Fanshaw, a firebrand divorce counsel to Scarlett Johansson's character undergoing separation from her husband, played by Adam Driver. Dern beat Johansson, nominated for "Jojo Rabbit", and her "Little Women" co-star Florence Pugh in the category. Other nominees were Margot Robbie ("Bombshell") and Kathy Bates ("Richard Jewell").