Nikola Jean "Niki" Caro is a film director, producer and screenwriter who is known for directing critically well-received movies like Whale Rider (2002) and North Country (2005). She made her directorial debut with Memory & Desire (1998), which was based on a story by Peter Wells. Caro shot to fame when Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for the Best Actress in a Leading Role for the movie Whale Rider (2002). She followed it up with North Country (2005) for which Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand both received Oscar nominations in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, respectively. Next she directed Kevin Costner in the critically acclaimed sports drama McFarland, USA (2015). In 2017 she directed Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh and Daniel Bruhl in The Zookeeper`s Wife.