Photo: David Shankbone / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Bigelow is, to me, one of the great quiet revolutionaries of American cinema. Becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director with The Hurt Locker wasn't just a milestone; it was a reframing of who gets to own the muscular, kinetic action genre. What I admire most is her refusal to soften. From Near Dark to Point Break to her war films, she shoots violence and adrenaline with a painter's eye and an unflinching nerve. A Columbia-trained artist who turned thrillers into serious cinema, she earns my deep respect every time.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Kathryn Bigelow
- Name (Japanese)
- キャスリン・ビグロー
- Reading
- きゃすりん・びぐろー
- Born
- November 27, 1951 (age 74)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Rabbit
- Origin
- San Carlos, California, United States
- Occupation
- screenwriter / film director / film producer / executive producer
2. Background
- High school
- San Carlos High School
- University
- Columbia University School of the Arts
Awards & achievements
- Directors Guild of America Award
- 2010 Academy Award for Best Director
- 2010 Academy Award for Best Picture
- National Board of Review Award for Best Film
- 2010 BAFTA Award for Best Direction
- 2012 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director
- Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Near Dark | — | |
| Notable work | The Hurt Locker | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Kathryn Bigelow born?
Born November 27, 1951 (age 74).
Where is Kathryn Bigelow from?
Kathryn Bigelow is from San Carlos, California, United States.
What does Kathryn Bigelow do?
Kathryn Bigelow works as screenwriter, film director, film producer, executive producer.
What is Kathryn Bigelow known for?
Notable works include Near Dark, The Hurt Locker.
Screenwriter — see all → · Film director — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.