Director Catherine Hardwicke Delivers Gina Rodriguez as Action Star in Miss Bala

Catherine Hardwicke was 48 years old when she directed her first feature-length film. That movie, Thirteen, a dark look at a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship, garnered Golden Globe nominations for its stars, Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, as well as an Oscar nod for Hunter and an Independent Spirit Award for Nikki Reed.

Though by Hollywood standards she came a bit late to directing, the success of Thirteen demonstrated she was meant to be at the helm.