Hardwicke slams execs on 'The Fighter'

Catherine Hardwicke has criticised the execs behind The Fighter for turning her down on the grounds of her sex.

In an interview with The Wrap, the Twilight director recalled expressing an interest in directing the boxing film, which stars Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg, but being turned away because she is a woman.

"I couldn't get an interview even though my last movie made $400 million (£250m)," she revealed.

"I was told it had to be directed by a man - am I crazy?"

Hardwicke went on to say that she finds such a stance in the movie industry to be hypocritical, adding: "It's about action, it's about boxing, so a man has to direct it.

"But they'll let a man direct Sex And The City or any girly movie you've ever heard of."

The Fighter was directed by David O Russell.