Kathryn Ann Bigelow (born November 27, 1951) is an American film director. Her best-known films are the cult horror film Near Dark (1987), action surfer/bank robbery picture Point Break (1991), the historical/mystery film The Weight of Water (The Weight of Water (film)) (2000) and the war drama The Hurt Locker (2009). The Hurt Locker won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Picture, won the BAFTA Award for Best Film, and was nominated for the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama (Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama).

Bigelow, with The Hurt Locker, became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director, the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing (Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Feature Film), the BAFTA Award for Best Direction, and the Critics Choice Award for Best Director.

In April 2010, Bigelow was named to the Time 100 (Time 100) list of most influential people of the year.