Jane Campion

An unflinching director who often showcased a complex side of women rarely seen in conventional Hollywood movies, Jane Campion emerged from her native Australia as a celebrated and decorated auteur. Following her award-winning days as a student filmmaker, Campion arrived on the scene with "Sweetie" (1990), a stylish and disturbing look at the destruction of a family by a psychologically disturbed sibling. But it was her multi-award winning romantic drama "The Piano" (1993) that introduced her to a worldwide audience. Passionate, moving and unrepentantly erotic, the film was lauded for its lush visualization of the complex emotions of a woman's sexual awakening. The film earned many awards, including an Academy Award for Campion's screenplay.

Her subsequent films allowed her to continue her exploration of the power of female sexuality, as she did with "The Portrait of a Lady" (1996), "Holy Smoke" (1999) and "In the Cut" (2003). Critics and audiences alike praised her originality and willingness to push boundaries, which demonstrated that Campion remained a daring and provocative filmmaker all throughout her career.