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Director Greta Gerwig created history this year when she helmed the blockbuster filmBarbie. She became the only solo female filmmaker to have a billion-dollar grossing film at the box office in history and is currently nominated for two Golden Globe awards for the film. The film also became the highest-grossing film of the year.
However, Geriwg began her career in the independent film scene and has steadily risen to be one of the favorite directors for cinephiles. Her filmsFrances Ha, Lady Bird,andLittle Womenhave become classics in the making for many and she headlined the mumblecore movement. However, her first big breakthroughGreenbergreportedly made her depressed.
Also read:Greta Gerwig’s Husband Noah Baumbach Was the Man Behind Her First Big Break in Hollywood Through Ben Stiller’s $7.3 Million Worth Movie
From Mumblecore to Barbiecore: Greta Gerwig’s Life And Career
Before she created history withBarbie,Greta Gerwigwanted to be a playwright. A resident of Sacramento, she moved to New York with dreams of studying musical theater but ended up studying at Barnard College with a degree in English and philosophy. She concentrated on acting when she did not get into any of the MFA programs for theater.
Gerwig gained notoriety for being the ‘it-girl’ in the mumblecore movement of films by directors such as Jay and Mark Duplass and Joe Swanberg. She had a writing and directing partnership with Swanberg and she co-wroteHannah Takes the Stairsand co-directedNights and Weekends. She also acted in these films.
Also read:“I don’t know if this is a good example of womanhood”: Greta Gerwig Admits Her Mother Was Never a Fan of Barbie
Gerwig had her breakthrough in the critically appreciated but commercially pannedNoach BaumbachfilmGreenberg. She starred along with Ben Stiller, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Rhys Ifans. This began her collaboration and relationship with director Baumbach, with whom she wrote and performed inFrances Ha, Mistress America,andWhite Noise.
Greta Gerwig made her solo directorial debut withLady Bird, which won her the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. She was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Director. Her next film was the period dramaLittle Women, which earned similar accolades. She then helmed this year’s blockbusterBarbie, foraying into mainstream territory.
Also read:Greta Gerwig Admits One of the Best Moments of Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie From Barbie Was Inspired From a Commercial
Greta Gerwig Was Depressed AfterGreenberg’sFailure
When Greta Gerwig starred in Noah Baumbach’s 2010 romantic comedy-dramaGreenberg, she believed that was her big foray into the mainstream. The film had Ben Stiller in the leading role and had stalwarts such as Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rhys Ifans, Brie Larson, and Dave Franco in the cast. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and competed for the Golden Bear Award, and it was also nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Awards. However, when released, it was a commercial failure.
Earning only $7.4 million against a $25 million budget, the film was one of the biggest commercial disappointments for the crew. Greta Gerwig mentioned in an interview withThe Guardianmuch later that the box office verdict made her depressed and hopeless. She said,
“I was really depressed. I cried a lot. It was a hard year. I was 25 and thinking, ‘This is supposed to be the best time and I’m miserable.’ Looking back, I wish I had taken that time and written more, but it felt like acting was happening for me, and I went back to acting classes.”
However, the actress would soon bounce back and the film also marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration and romantic partnership with Noah Baumbach. They co-wrote the filmFrances Ha, a film which was directed by Baumbach and starrer Gerwig in the leading role. The film put her on the map as a leading star.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2419
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
