For 81 years, no woman had ever won the Academy Award for Best Director. That changed in 2010 when Kathryn Bigelow won for the Iraq War drama 'The Hurt Locker.' Making the victory even more dramatic, she was competing against her ex-husband, James Cameron, whose film 'Avatar' was the heavy favorite. Bigelow’s win was a watershed moment for female filmmakers, proving that women could successfully helm intense, high-stakes action and war films. Following her win, it took another 11 years for a second woman (Chloé Zhao) to win the award. Bigelow’s achievement remains a cornerstone of Oscar history, representing a major step toward gender parity in the industry's most prestigious creative category.