Before she directed “The Hurt Locker” and won the Oscar for best director, Kathryn Bigelow was known as a successful movie producer. And long before that, she was an award-winning photojournalist. Her first film gigs were in documentary production, where she worked with major studios like HBO, CBS, and ABC. With her work very much in the public eye, it’s not surprising that there are some juicy details about Bigelow’s personal life. Here is everything you need to know about Kathryn Bigelow the movie director.
Kathryn Bigelow Bio
It’s hard to talk about Kathryn Bigelow’s life without talking about her career. Born February 21, 1951, in San Jose, California, Bigelow grew up in a military family. Her father was an Air Force pilot who was often away from home. It was this experience that led Bigelow to pursue a career in film. She said that she wanted to create stories that could make her family feel less alone. Like many filmmakers, Bigelow has gone to school. She studied at Stanford University, where she got an undergraduate degree in English. While at Stanford, Bigelow also worked as an editor and photographer for the university’s newspaper, The Stanford Daily. It was there, as a photojournalist, that Bigelow found her life’s calling.
Where is Kathryn Bigelow From?
San Jose, California. During her undergraduate years at Stanford University, Bigelow spent a semester abroad in Israel. She lived in Jerusalem, where she worked as a photojournalist for the Jerusalem Post. Bigelow’s time in Jerusalem was a critical experience in her life. It was there that she first became interested in filmmaking, as well as in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Her experiences in Israel inspired Bigelow to pursue a career in filmmaking. Her time at Stanford and in Jerusalem also led to Bigelow’s future husband. While living in Jerusalem, Bigelow met and married fellow student James Cameron. They divorced in 1990 but remained good friends. Cameron, of course, is now known as the director of films like Avatar and Titanic.
How Did Kathryn Bigelow Become a Director?
While still at Stanford, Bigelow began working as an editor and producer for documentaries. This led her to work at PBS, where she directed a documentary called The Vietnam War. Bigelow’s work at PBS led to a gig at Bigelow’s future employer, the Weinstein Company. She directed her first feature film, Near Dark, in 1987. Near Dark is an interesting film, but it’s not the one that shot Bigelow to fame. In 1995, Bigelow directed the film, Strange Days. It’s about a man who, for various reasons, works on the black market of virtual reality headsets that people use to relive their fondest memories. The film was about high-tech, but also about racial tensions and violence in Los Angeles. Strange Days was praised for its realism, highlighting themes of racial profiling, police brutality, and economic inequality in Los Angeles.
Quick Facts: Kathryn Bigelow’s Movies
- After Strange Days, Bigelow’s directorial career took a break. She focused more on producing, helping to create, and distributing some of Hollywood’s most successful movies and TV shows. Bigelow’s next film as a director was The Hurt Locker in 2008. The film won many awards and was a hit with both critics and audiences. Bigelow followed The Hurt Locker with a film called Zero Dark Thirty. It tells the story of the hunt for Osama bin Laden after 9/11. The film was controversial. It was criticized for showing torture as an effective tool for gathering intelligence. Bigelow defended her film, saying it was about “a very important and timely story.”
Is Kathryn Bigelow Married?
Kathryn Bigelow is married to Mark Boal. They have been together since 2008. They met on the set of The Hurt Locker. Boal is a journalist and screenwriter, working on projects like the Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty, and Bigelow’s upcoming film about the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2010, Boal wrote a piece for Playboy about his sexual fantasies. In it, he talked about his attraction to his wife’s best friend, Gina. Bigelow was not happy about this. Bigelow and Boal have two children together.
What Is Kathryn Bigelow’s Net Worth?
Kathryn Bigelow’s net worth is estimated to be $45 million. This isn’t surprising when you consider the directors who earned more than she did in the same year: $50 million for James Cameron and $33 million for Peter Jackson. Bigelow has earned a lot of money from her work as a director and producer. She has also earned money from writing, getting an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay for The Hurt Locker. Each year, Forbes releases a list of the highest-earning directors. For the year 2018, Kathryn Bigelow ranked 20th with $11 million. She was one of only two women to make the top 20, with Ava DuVernay coming in at No. 13 with $14 million.
Final Words: Is There Anything Else We Should Know?
Kathryn Bigelow is a prolific director. Since the start of her career, she has made many films. More importantly, Bigelow is an incredibly talented director who has been able to push the boundaries of Hollywood. Bigelow first made a name for herself with the groundbreaking film, Strange Days. Later, she directed The Hurt Locker. This film won many awards and was one of the first Hollywood movies to explore the War on Terror. Bigelow’s most recent film is about the Paris Climate Agreement and was released to critical acclaim in 2019. Whether she’s focusing on the past or the future, Bigelow’s work is always timely and important. Her movies can be thrilling and thought-provoking. They can also be controversial, covering controversial topics. These are the facts, stats, and information you should know about Kathryn Bigelow the movie director. Now you know everything there is to know about this amazing director.