Ava DuVernay Becomes 1st Black Woman to Be Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Director

Earlier Thursday morning, Golden Globe nominations were revealed, and among the nominations in 25 categories, director Ava DuVernay has made history. DuVernay’s movie Selma picked up four nominations, including Best Director, Motion Picture; Best Motion Picture, Drama; Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama (David Oyelowo); and Best Original Song, Motion Picture (“Glory”). DuVernay’s nomination in the best director category is a first for a black woman.

Selma is based on the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting-rights marches in Alabama, led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams and Martin Luther King Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The movie will be released in limited release on Christmas Day and nationwide Jan. 9.

In addition to DuVernay’s nominations, other nominations worth mentioning belong to Quvenzhané Wallis, who was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. Viola Davis picked up a nomination in the Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama, category for her role in How to Get Away With Murder. Don Cheadle is up for Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy, for his role in House of Lies. And last but not least, Uzo Aduba was nominated for her role in Orange Is the New Black in the Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie category.