The most inspiring women in film | CNN

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Film’s leading ladies

Updated 7:22 AM EST, Fri February 22, 2013
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In 2010 <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0000941%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Kathryn Bigelow </a>became the first and only woman to win an Oscar for best director, for her film about an elite army bomb squad, "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0887912%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Hurt Locker</a>."
The most inspiring women in film —
In 2010 Kathryn Bigelow became the first and only woman to win an Oscar for best director, for her film about an elite army bomb squad, "The Hurt Locker."
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
New Zealand director <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0001005%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Jane Campion</a> is the only female filmmaker in history to have won the Palme D'Or at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.festival-cannes.fr%2Fen.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Cannes Film Festival</a>. She picked up the prestigious award in 1993 for "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0107822%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Piano</a>."
New Zealand director Jane Campion is the only female filmmaker in history to have won the Palme D'Or at Cannes Film Festival. She picked up the prestigious award in 1993 for "The Piano."
ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images
Award-winning "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1232776%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Fish Tank</a>" director <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0036349%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Andrea Arnold </a>with British actor Ewan McGregor at the Cannes film festival 2012, where she was a member of the jury.
Award-winning "Fish Tank" director Andrea Arnold with British actor Ewan McGregor at the Cannes film festival 2012, where she was a member of the jury.
LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm2501633%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Lena Dunham</a> won two <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldenglobes.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Golden Globes</a> for her comedy series "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1723816%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Girls</a>" in January 2013. She is the writer and executive producer of the show, for which she also plays the lead role.
Lena Dunham won two Golden Globes for her comedy series "Girls" in January 2013. She is the writer and executive producer of the show, for which she also plays the lead role.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Director <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0708903%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Lynne Ramsay</a>, center, with actors Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly at the screening of their film "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1242460%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">We Need to Talk About Kevin</a>" at Cannes Film Festival 2011. The film picked up various awards including best film at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bfi.org.uk%2Flff" target="_blank" target="_blank">London Film Festival</a>.
Director Lynne Ramsay, center, with actors Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly at the screening of their film "We Need to Talk About Kevin" at Cannes Film Festival 2011. The film picked up various awards including best film at the London Film Festival.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Director <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0001460%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Mimi Leder </a>is known for challenging stereotypes. She has directed high-octane action films, such as "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0120647%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Deep Impact,</a>" normally associated with male directors.
Director Mimi Leder is known for challenging stereotypes. She has directed high-octane action films, such as "Deep Impact," normally associated with male directors.
David James/2000 Warner Bros&Bel Air Pictures, LLC/Newsmakers
Egyptian-Welsh screenwriter and director <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm2260751%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sally El Hosaini </a>received multiple awards last year, including Best Newcomer at the London Film Festival and Best Cinematography at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sundance.org%2Ffestival%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sundance</a> for her debut feature about Egyptian immigrants coming of age in East London "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt2076897%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">My Brother the Devil</a>".
Egyptian-Welsh screenwriter and director Sally El Hosaini received multiple awards last year, including Best Newcomer at the London Film Festival and Best Cinematography at Sundance for her debut feature about Egyptian immigrants coming of age in East London "My Brother the Devil".
Ian Gavan/Getty Images for BFI
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm1443740%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Zoe Kazan</a> is the writer and lead role of 2012 hit comedy "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1839492%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ruby Sparks</a>". The film, which mocks the way men write roles for women, won Best Screenplay at the 2012 <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiritawards.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Independent Spirit Awards</a>.
Zoe Kazan is the writer and lead role of 2012 hit comedy "Ruby Sparks". The film, which mocks the way men write roles for women, won Best Screenplay at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Award-winning director <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsallypotter.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sally Potter</a> with actors Steve Buscemi and Patrick Adams at the screening of her film "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1234550%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Rage</a>" at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.berlinale.de%2Fen%2FHomePage.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Berlinale Film Festival</a> 2009. The film also starred Lily Cole, Judi Dench, Jude Law and Eddie Izzard.
Award-winning director Sally Potter with actors Steve Buscemi and Patrick Adams at the screening of her film "Rage" at the Berlinale Film Festival 2009. The film also starred Lily Cole, Judi Dench, Jude Law and Eddie Izzard.
JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm5152687%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Haifaa Al-Mansour</a>, center, directed Saudi Arabia's first feature film, "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt2258858%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">WADJDA</a>", which won best film at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dubaifilmfest.com%2Fen%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Dubai International Film Festival </a>in 2011.
Haifaa Al-Mansour, center, directed Saudi Arabia's first feature film, "WADJDA", which won best film at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2011.
KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm0275486%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Tina Fey</a> is an American actress, writer and director best known for her work on "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbc.com%2Fsaturday-night-live%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Saturday Night Live</a>", "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbc.com%2F30-rock%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">30 Rock</a>" and her film "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0377092%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Mean Girls</a>". She has won seven <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emmys.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Emmy Awards </a>and two Golden Globes and was the first woman to host the Golden Globes in 2013.
Tina Fey is an American actress, writer and director best known for her work on "Saturday Night Live", "30 Rock" and her film "Mean Girls". She has won seven Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes and was the first woman to host the Golden Globes in 2013.
Mark Davis/Getty Images

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