Chloé Zhao

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

March 31, 1982 · Beijing, China

“I often feel like an outsider wherever I go, so I'm always attracted to stories about identity and the meaning of home.” Chloé Zhao is a Chinese filmmaker celebrated for her introspective films that explore journeys of self-discovery in the American West. She became the first person of color to win the Academy Award for Best Director for Nomadland (2020), a film that won multiple awards, including Best Picture. Zhao's upbringing was shaped by her father's executive career and her mother's hospital work. She struggled in school in Beijing but found her passion for storytelling in the U.S., where she attended Brighton College and later Mount Holyoke College, studying politics and film. Her debut feature, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), and the acclaimed The Rider (2017) showcased her unique approach of casting nonprofessional actors. Zhao also directed Eternals (2021), marking a shift to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.