Martha Coolidge (born August 17, 1946) is an American film director and former President of the Directors Guild of America. She has directed such films as Valley Girl, Real Genius and Rambling Rose.
Coolidge was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She is a granddaughter of Arthur W. Coolidge, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, who was a fourth cousin of President Calvin Coolidge.
Coolidge studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, but changed majors, becoming the first film major at the school. She earned her MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Later in Los Angeles, she studied acting and other aspects of her craft with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Joanne Baron, and David Craig.
Coolidge first made her reputation by directing many award-winning documentaries in New York City. While in New York, she helped found the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF).
She moved to Hollywood in 1976 and spent several years as a part of the Zoetrope Studio created by Francis Ford Coppola. Her feature-length directorial debut, Not a Pretty Picture, was based on a date rape she suffered at the age of 16. Her breakthrough came with the independently produced Valley Girl (1983), a film recognized for launching the career of Nicolas Cage. Her film Rambling Rose (1991) won three Independent Spirit Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress for Diane Ladd, in addition to Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Ladd and Laura Dern (Best Actress). Rambling Rose was well reviewed and made top 10 lists for the year. Despite a limited release hampered by economic problems suffered by the production company, the film played for months and earned many honors.
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) for HBO was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards, winning five, including Best Actress for its star Halle Berry, and earned Coolidge an Emmy and DGA (Directors Guild of America) nominations for Best Director.
From 2002 to 2003 she was the Directors Guild of America's first female president.
She taught at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
Coolidge was previously married to screenwriter Michael Backes, with whom she has a son, Preston, named after director Preston Sturges. She is now married to production designer James Spencer.
Independent Spirit Award, Best Director for Rambling Rose
Independent Spirit Award, Best Feature for Rambling Rose
DGA Award, Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award
Paris Film Festival, Grand Prix Award for Real Genius
Chicago International Film Festival, Best Short Film for Bimbo
Chicago International Film Festival, Best Short Film for More Than a School
LA Femme International Film Festival, Maverick Award
Women in Film Award, Crystal Award
Online Film & Television Association Award, Best Director for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge