Actress Natalie Portman is critical of this year’s Oscars.Image: AP Invision
January 26, 2026, 10:46January 26, 2026, 10:46
According to actress Natalie Portman, women have been left out in this year’s Oscar nominations.
“So many of the best films I saw this year were made by women,” said the actress (“Black Swan,” “Star Wars”) in an interview with the industry magazine “Variety.” You can see the hurdles for female directors at every level, “because so many were not recognized at award ceremonies.”
Among the ten Oscar nominations for Best Picture and the five nominations for Best Director, there is only one female director, Chloé Zhao (“Hamnet”). Portman listed some recent films directed by women as examples – such as “Sorry, Baby”, “Left-Handed Girl” and “Hedda”. “Extraordinary films that many people like and love, but don’t get the recognition they deserve.”
Director Chloé Zhao is nominated for this year’s Oscar for her film “Hamnet”. Image: AP Invision
Even if the hurdles of financing and festival participation were overcome, from Portman’s point of view women would not get any attention. “We still have a lot of work to do,” said the 44-year-old. (sda/dpa)