Barbra Streisand — the only woman to have ever won Best Director at the Golden Globes — called out the awards show for its lack of women nominees

jessica tholmer
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Barbra Streisand — the only woman to have ever won Best Director at the Golden Globes — called out the awards show for its lack of women nominees
Barbra Streisand — the only woman to have ever won Best Director at the Golden Globes — called out the awards show for its lack of women nominees

There were so many moving speeches and powerful moments at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards. Women were in full force tonight — Oprah gave an incredibly empowering speech and Natalie Portman called out the Globes for its all-male directing category…and Portman wasn’t the only person on stage who called the ceremony out. While presenting the last award of the evening for Best Picture, Drama (it went to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Barbra Streisand gently — but powerfully — mentioned that she was the last woman to win Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards for the film Yentl.

She also mentioned that she won in 1984, which was 34 years ago. 34 years:



“Backstage I heard they said I was the only woman … to get the best director award, and you know, that was 1984: That was 34 years ago. Folks, time’s up! We need more women directors and more women to be nominated for best director. There are so many films out there that are so good directed by women.”


We all know that we have a long way to go in Hollywood (and everywhere) when it comes to gender equality.

Tonight was a powerful night for women in show business as the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements ruled the evening, but it should be noted that Greta Gerwig was snubbed for Best Director. Lady Bird is critically acclaimed and even won Best Picture, Comedy or Musical tonight — but Gerwig wasn’t recognized for it. What else does Gerwig have to do to be nominated?

What about all of the other incredible films that women have directed in the past 34 years?

Streisand is right. Time is up for the neglect and dismissal of women in film. Behind the scenes, in front of them, and all around them. Time is up for women not being appreciated.

It was incredible to have Streisand, such a living legend, call our attention to the amount of time that has passed since a woman won Best Director at the Golden Globes.

We hope women are nominated at the Oscars, and we hope that next year, there are many more women nominated at the Globes. We hope these Hollywood institutions start realizing why representation matters.

Maybe, one day, there will only be women in the Best Director category. Hey, time is up. Let’s dream big.