Chloé Zhao Becomes Second Woman in History to Win Oscar for Best Director Variety 2 hrs ago For the first time in more than a decade — and only the second time in history — a woman has won the Oscar for best director. Chloé Zhao on Sunday night took home the Academy Award for best director for “Nomadland,” a sweeping drama about a widow in her 60s (Frances McDormand) who travels the Western United States in a van after losing her job in the Great Recession. The film — which Zhao wrote, edited and produced, in addition to directing — received six nominations in total, including best picture and actress for McDormand.