While celebrating the International Women’s Day, let us play Brave, the Pixar movie which was given the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2012. Princess Merida’s courage, resolution and unconventional spirit are due to film director Brenda Chapman, who was inspired by the strong and independent nature of her daughter Emma.

First woman to direct an animated feature for a major Hollywood studio, Brenda Chapman worked for Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks, contributing to famous productions such as Who framed Roger Rabbit, Cars and The Prince of Egypt.

When describing herself, she writes: “I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil, and I always knew that I wanted to do something that would allow me to draw”.

“I’m a storyteller. And what a grand thing that is – in the big scheme of jobs (or life passions), that is”.