Guillermo del Toro and Steven Spielberg respond to Natalie Portman's Golden Globes zinger

'There is phenomenal work being done by female directors'

Introducing the best directors category at the Golden Globes, Natalie Portman slyly announced “the all-male nominees” to some gasps and laughter.

Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk), Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards), Ridley Scott (All the Money in the World), Steven Spielberg (The Post), and Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) were those up for the award, and you would think the eventual winner would be slightly annoyed.

Luckily, Del Toro — who took home the prize — was not offended in the slightest, telling IndieWire: “I think it was great! She should say exactly what she feels. There is phenomenal work being done by female directors.”

The director then singled out three movies directed by women that have stood out from the last year — mentioning Dee Rees’ Mudbound, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, and Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman — and calling them all “terrific”.

Spielberg has also spoken about Portman’s comments, telling Entertainment Tonight: “There’s a watershed happening right now, slowly, maybe not fast enough, for women directors.

“I mean you have Patty Jenkins. We have some amazing women that have come forward, you know Mudbound and Lady Bird. This is a pretty incredible year, and I think you'll be seeing some nominations. I’m predicting at the Oscars this year for a woman director, if not several.”

Whether any women will get nominated for the best directing Oscar remains to be seen, but the BAFTAs also managed to exclude women from the category this year.