He also opened up about an Oprah Winfrey/Tom Hanks presidential run.
Steven Spielberg is embracing this time in Hollywood! The 71-year-old legendary director spoke with ET’s Lauren Zima at the National Board of Review Awards on Tuesday night about this unique period in the entertainment industry, calling it “powerful, a watershed for women, a watershed for men, who will learn to listen or those who have been listening.”
And The Post director didn’t shy away when asked about Natalie Portman’s clear dig at the all-male directing category at this year’s Golden Globes.
“There’s also a watershed happening right now, slowly, maybe not fast enough, for women directors,” the three-time Oscar winner noted. “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.”
At the same event, ET also asked Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins about the headline-making moment from Portman.
“What could you say? It made me laugh, and it made me smile,” she said. “Look, it’s been a little glaring that women directors don’t get nominated so often and it is odd. Particularly when their films are being celebrated in every other way, so I thought it was interesting to highlight it. And what a difficult category to present without saying something about it, so she did it so perfectly.”
As for a potential first female president in Oprah Winfrey, Spielberg noted, “It sure sounded like 2020 to me.”
But as to whether he’d support his longtime star Tom Hanks as a vice presidential running mate for Winfrey, Spielberg replied, “If I’m gonna commit anything for Tom Hanks to be in in the future, it’s going to be another five of my movies.”
Hanks gave his take on the vice presidency at the event to ET, saying, “I will only be a VP unless I’m guaranteed at least two rides on the presidential helicopter a month. If I don’t get that, I will not serve. I want to ride shotgun on Marine One twice a month.”
Spielberg’s other Post star, Meryl Streep, also dished to ET about a potential Oprah presidential run. Watch the exclusive interview below!
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