Chloé Zhao becomes first woman of color to win Oscars Best Director
- Sara Fischer, author of Axios Media Trends
Chloé Zhao accepting the Best Director Oscar onstage during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station in Los Angeles on Sunday. Photo: Todd Wawrychuk/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images
Chloé Zhao made history on Sunday when she was awarded the Best Director Oscar for "Nomadland" — making her the first female of color and first Asian woman to win the prestigious prize in the Academy Awards' 93-year history to win.
Why it matters: Zhao's victory is a win for Asian women in Hollywood, who are often overlooked for main character, producer and director roles. "Nomadland" went on to win the Best Picture Oscar.
What they're saying: In an acceptance speech, Zhao recited a poem that inspired her as a young girl in Mandarin.
- "People at birth are inherently good," she said, translating the poem. "Those six letters had such a great impact on me as a kid and I still truly believe them today."
Be smart: Zhao is just the second woman in history to win the Oscar for Best Director, following Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker" in 2010.
The big picture: Diversity was highlighted more on Sunday during the 93rd Academy Awards than perhaps any other show in Oscars history.
- Following Zhao's win, Yuh-Jung Youn, who is South Korean, won the award for best supporting actress for her role in "Minari."
Go deeper: Read more on the Oscars in Monday's Axios AM newsletter
Editor's note: The story corrects Zhao's nationality. She is Chinese, not Chinese American.