Kathryn Bigelow On Her Historic Win: ‘Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams’

Director Kathryn Bigelow has some advice for those who want to follow in her Oscar-winning footsteps.

“I’ve been making films for awhile – 30 years,” she said backstage at the Oscars after “The Hurt Locker” won six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. “Be tenacious. Never give up on your dreams.”

And she added that “The Hurt Locker,” the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner ever with $14.7 million in box office receipts as of this weekend, wasn’t always a lock for the top honors.

“I don’t think I ever dared to hope, but I will say that what was extraordinary was the love from the critical community,” she said. “That was like wind in the sails, and it just created a momentum that would not stop.”

Before the ceremony, Kathryn told Access Hollywood that she was hoping to meet Barbra Streisand, who was nominated for Best Director for 1983’s “Yentl.” On Sunday night, Kathryn became the first woman to take home the award, which Barbra herself presented to her.

“I hope I’m the first of many [women],” Kathryn said backstage. “Of course, I’d love to think of myself as a filmmaker, and I long for the day when a modifier can be a moot point. But I’m grateful if I can inspire some young, intrepid tenacious male or female filmmaker and have them feel that the impossible is possible and never give up on your dream.”