CANNES WATCH: Naomi Watts says to stop comparisons between men and women in cinema

CANNES, France – Oscar-nominated Naomi Watts says she’s had enough with female directors constantly being sized up to their male counterparts.

Speaking to The Associated Press, the “Impossible” star said that “female directors and actresses have a different voice, different stories. It’s not helpful to be compared to men.”

Watts, who wore a pink strapless dress and long Bulgari white gold and diamond necklace, was in Cannes on Thursday night to attend Calvin Klein’s “Women in Film” alongside Julianne Moore, Lupita Nyong’o and Rooney Mara.

The underrepresentation of women in directorial roles has been a hot topic at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, with Jane Campion — the first female filmmaker to have ever won the Palme d’Or — sitting as jury president.

“Jane Campion is right to say that there’s an inherent sexism in the film industry. But there’s also a lack of women putting themselves forward,” Watts added.

— By AP Writer Thomas Adamson, http://www.twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP