LOS ANGELES — Chloé Zhao secured her place in Golden Globes history on Sunday, becoming the first Asian woman to win best director at the awards show.
According to The Associated Press and The New York Times, the 38-year-old Zhao, who directed “Nomadland,” is just the second woman to win the award. The first was Barbra Streisand, who was named best director for “Yentl” in 1984, the AP reported.
NBC's "78th Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals NEW YORK, NEW YORK: 78th Annual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Jackson Lee, left, and Satchel Lee, right, attend the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Rainbow Room and broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021, in New York, New York. The pair served as Golden Globe ambassadors for the 2021 event. (Photo by Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NBC's "78th Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: 78th Annual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: (l-r) Zuri Hall attends the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton and broadcast on Feb/ 28,.2021, in Beverly Hills, California. -- (Photo by Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (Todd_Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NBC's "78th Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: 78th Annual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured in this image released on February 28, Margot Robbie attends the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton and broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California. -- (Photo by Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (Todd_Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NBC's "78th Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: 78th Annual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured in this image released on February 28, (l-r) HFPA Board Chair Meher Tatna, HFPA President Ali Sar, and HFPA Vice President Helen Hoehne attend the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton and broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California. -- (Photo by Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (Todd_Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NBC's "78th Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: 78th Annual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Actress Sofia Carson attends the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton and broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California. -- (Photo by Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (Todd_Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live On Twitter The Official Pre-Show For The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Virtual Screengrabs UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 28: In this screengrab, Loni Love appears virtually on Twitter's livestream of "HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live", the official pre-show for the 78th Annual Golden Globes broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo by 2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globes Countdown Live/Getty Images for DCP & HFPA) (2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globe/Getty Images for DCP & HFPA)
HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live On Twitter The Official Pre-Show For The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Virtual Screengrabs UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 28: In this screengrab, AJ Gibson and Emile Ennis Jr. appear virtually on Twitter's livestream of "HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live", the official pre-show for the 78th Annual Golden Globes broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo by 2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globes Countdown Live/Getty Images for DCP & HFPA) (2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globe/Getty Images for DCP & HFPA)
HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live On Twitter The Official Pre-Show For The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Virtual Screengrabs UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 28: In this screengrab, Nick Viall appears virtually on Twitter's livestream of "HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live", the official pre-show for the 78th Annual Golden Globes broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo by 2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globes Countdown Live/Getty Images for DCP & HFPA) (2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globe/Getty Images for DCP & HFPA)
HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live On Twitter The Official Pre-Show For The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Virtual Screengrabs UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 28: In this screengrab, Jared Leto appears virtually on twitter's livestream of "HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live", the official pre-show for the 78th Annual Golden Globes broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo by HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live/Getty Images for DCP and HFPA) (2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globe/Getty Images for DCP and HFPA)
HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live On Twitter The Official Pre-Show For The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Virtual Screengrabs UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 28: In this screengrab, Kate Hudson appears virtually on twitter's livestream of "HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live", the official pre-show for the 78th Annual Golden Globes broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo by HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live/Getty Images for DCP and HFPA) (2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globe/Getty Images for DCP and HFPA)
HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live On Twitter The Official Pre-Show For The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Virtual Screengrabs UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 28: In this screengrab Daniel Kaluuya appears virtually on twitter's livestream of "HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live", the official pre-show for the 78th Annual Golden Globes broadcast on Feb. 28, 2021. (Photo by HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live/Getty Images for DCP and HFPA) (2021 HFPA Presents: Golden Globe/Getty Images for DCP and HFPA)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Frontline and essential workers attend as guests during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Christian Slater presents the award for Best Television Actress – Musical/Comedy Series onstage during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler speak via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Frontline and essential workers attend as guests during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Frontline and essential workers attend as guests during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Justin Theroux announces Mark Ruffalo for Best Actor - Television Motion Picture award via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Tina Fey presents Norman Lear with the Carol Burnett Award during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Christian Slater introduces the nominees during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Colin Farrell speaks via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Justin Theroux presents the award for Best Actor - Television Motion Picture onstage during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Ben Stiller eats a Golden Globe made of banana bread onstage during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on Feb. 28, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Ben Stiller speaks with nominees via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on Feb. 28, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Ben Stiller announces Rosamund Pike the winner of the Best Actress - Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy award via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on Feb. 28, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Tina Fey speaks with Norman Lear via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on Feb. 28, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Tracy Morgan announces Trent Reznor a winner of the Best Score Motion Picture award via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on Feb. 28, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Christopher Meloni presents the award for Best Supporting Actress – Television onstage during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Christopher Meloni introduces nominees via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Christopher Meloni announces Gillian Anderson the winner of the Best Supporting Actress – Television award via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Rosie Perez introduces nominees via livestream the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards: Show NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 28: Rosie Perez announces Anya Taylor-Joy the winner of the Best Actress - Television Motion Picture award via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Forei)
In her acceptance speech, Zhao, who was born in China but lives in Los Angeles, thanked “the nomads who shared their stories with us” in the film, which also took home the award for best drama motion picture. One of those nomads, Bob Wells, told her that “compassion is the breakdown of all the barriers between us,” she said.
“Now, this is why I fell in love with making movies and telling stories: because it gives us a chance to laugh and cry together, and it gives us a chance to learn from each other and to have more compassion for each other,” Zhao said in her speech. “So thank you everyone who made it possible to do what I love.”
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.