Greta Gerwig on Monday celebrated the four Golden Globes nominations for her film "Lady Bird," including one for best motion picture comedy and another for her screenplay. Like an awards-season pro, she fielded a question about her glaring absence in the director category with grace.
Q: I was going to ask if you were in Sacramento, but clearly not.
A: I'm actually in L.A. at the moment, but there's been lots of phone calls from Sacramento. It's very heartening that so many people from my hometown have gone to the movie and reached out to me. It feels like a real moment for the city. People have been taking selfies at different locations from the movie, which I love. It's the place that gave me roots and wings. I was just in France and England, and after screenings, people would say, "I feel like I'm from Sacramento, even if I'm from Paris." And I was like, "Uh, it's very different." But I think it's a response to the understanding of what home feels like _ how home is a place that really only comes into focus as you're leaving it.
Q: You always dreamed of leaving Sacramento. Do you appreciate it more now?
A: I think I always knew that I loved Sacramento and it was a special place. I go back all the time, but as I get older, I also see how many of the things I've been able to do are because of where I'm from. It makes you feel like everything is full circle, that this was made there with so much love and support from the community. It was a way of embarking on a new part of my career, but also coming home. That synchronicity is very special.
Q: The movie got four nominations, but you _ nor any other woman _ got a directing nod. How do you feel about that?
A: In any given year, there are so many directors whose great work goes unacknowledged. There's always great female directors who I wish would get more recognition. But it's such a good year for female films. Talking to different directors this season _ meeting Dee Rees, Maggie Betts, Sofia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow, Valerie Faris _ it's been heartening. There's so much work and that feels like it's all moving in the right direction. Every year, I think, "Hey, where's this woman or that woman?" But I do think the work is being acknowledged. Collectively, it's hard to feel anything but thrilled.
Q: What's it like to have a movie come out when women in Hollywood are at the center of so much cultural conversation?
A: I think it's really important, the national and international discussion we have going on. It's critical it's happening now _ it could have happened earlier _ but I'm heartened by the fact that it is happening now. Hopefully, all of these women who've done this great work will usher in the next generation of women doing great work and holding positions of power. It means so much to see women taking charge and shifting the conversation and trying to be part of that. I think it's amazing time to have a movie out and be in this place. I remember when we did the L.A. Times roundtable, I was there with Angelina Jolie and Kathryn Bigelow. ... It feels so good to have it be half women, or close to half.
Q: What will you do to celebrate today?
A: I'm sort of, like, pacing around. I have a couple of friends from Sacramento who are here in Los Angeles, and I'll be getting a lot of food with them. I couldn't be happier. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm totally beside myself! I think I'm gonna get on a Skype with Saoirse [Ronan, star of "Lady Bird"] so we can scream at each other's faces.
Q: Who are you going to bring to the Globes with you? Your mom? Noah Baumbach?
A: I don't know! I brought my mom and dad to the Gothams with me, and later, my dad was like, "I'm a little upset I didn't get to talk to James Franco." He was kidding. They were on opposite sides of the table. I wish I could bring all of Sacramento with me, including my brother and sister.
