Top 5 Need to Know Facts About Greta Gerwig
This multi talented star is bound to be the talk of the Oscars in 2018. Here are top 5 Facts About Greta Gerwig. For this list, we're looking at some interesting and little known facts about the actress/director. Did you know her breakout movie was “No Strings Attached”? How about the fact that she personally wrote to the artists whose music appeared in Ladybird? Did you know that she was rejected from playwriting Masters programs? She's also part of a very exclusive group. When the Academy Award nominations were announced in January of 2018, Greta Gerwig was entered into a very small list of women who have been honored with a nomination in the category of best director.
#5: Her Breakout Movie Was “No Strings Attached”
If you do recognize Greta Gerwig, it’s because she got her start in the industry as an actress, and has taken on roles in both indie flicks and mainstream films. The movie that helped propel her into becoming a more prominent figure was the sexy rom-com “No Strings Attached”, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. Gerwig played Patrice, a medical resident who is the female lead’s roommate. It was this role which primed Gerwig to star in a rom-com of her very own, “Lola Versus,” which was released the following year.
#4: She Personally Wrote To The Artists Whose Music Appeared in “Lady Bird”
Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” is set in 2002, and the film’s soundtrack is perfectly nostalgic for anyone who went to high school at the same time as the titular character. Gerwig went out of her way to ensure she was able to use her favorite songs in this semi-autobiographical film, by contacting the artists directly. In her note to Justin Timberlake when requesting the use of “Cry Me a River” she said: “I remember being in the cafeteria at lunch and someone played it for me on their Discman and I wanted to hear it again, right away, and as loud as possible.” How could he say no to that?
#3: She Was Rejected From Playwriting Masters Programs
Considering her recent success, with “Lady Bird” winning Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes, and being nominated for a whopping five Oscars, you’ll be surprised to learn that Gerwig’s rise to success wasn’t without many challenges. Gerwig wanted to become a playwright, but when she applied to Masters of Fine Arts programs in playwriting, she was rejected from every program she applied to. We do wonder what those admissions people are thinking now!
#2: She Didn't Study Film
Just like the character Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig grew up in Sacramento, California. She went to a strict Catholic school, with high hopes of studying musical theater in New York. But that didn’t exactly pan out: she ended up doing English Lit and philosophy at Barnard College. She was always interested in performance, however, and took on small acting roles in a variety of productions. She ultimately made a name for herself in the “mumblecore” movement, where films are made on a low budget and often feature non-professional actors.
#1: She’s A Member of a Very Exclusive Club
When the Academy Award nominations were announced in 2018, Greta Gerwig joined a very small list of women who have been honored with a nomination in the Best Director category. Gerwig joins Lina Wertmüller, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola and Kathryn Bigelow; the latter is the only woman to have ever actually taken home the statue. If Gerwig becomes the second winner, she will be the youngest woman to hold the honor. Not to mention that “Lady Bird”was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, along with its acting noms. And it’s her first time ever directing! How impressive is that?
