Natalie Portman’s Oscars Outfit Honors Female Directors

Natalie Portman, 38, showed up in the 2020 Oscars dressed in a custom Dior cape embroidered with the names of “some female directors who were overlooked by the Academy this past year for their work,” as described by Fox News.

When asked by Los Angeles Times journalist Amy Kaufman about her fashion choice, Portman said, “I wanted to recognize the women who were not recognized for their incredible work this year in a subtle way.”

The gown had the names of directors Lorene Scafaria (“Hustlers”), Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”), Marielle Heller (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”), Melina Matsoukas (“Queen & Slim”) Alma Har’el (“Honey Boy”), Céline Sciamma (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”), and Mati Diop (“Atlantics”).

“This year the directing category is filled with all-male nominees for the second year in a row which prompted backlash on social media about the lack of exclusivity and diversity at major awards shows,” reported Fox News.

This is not Portman’s first time to call attention to the lack of female representation in the category. Portman introduced the category saying, “…and here are the all-male nominees” on the Oscars stage two years ago.