Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to ever win a best director Oscar on Sunday for her work on The Hurt Locker, the Iraq war film about a team of US soldiers who defuse bombs.
Bigelow was only the fourth woman ever nominated for a best director Oscar. She competed in the category this year against her ex-husband, Avatar director James Cameron.
The Hurt Locker which centers on an American bomb-disposal squad in Iraq, is now out on DVD. It earned a modest $15 million at the North American box office. It was distributed by closely held Summit Entertainment.
Its closest Oscar competition was considered to be Avatar the all-time box office champ produced and directed by James Cameron, Bigelow's ex-husband.
Both films received nine nominations.