A San Francisco native, Green moved to Dublin to pursue a master’s in film, which led to several productive years working there. She felt at home in Ireland but realized it couldn’t provide the opportunities available in the increasingly robust U.S. TV industry.

“And I love television, and what was happening here was exciting because it was this sort of golden age,” she said. Her film work abroad proved a calling card that opened doors and gave her the chance to prove herself when she returned to California six years ago.

Among her boosters: director Dan Attias, writer-producer Joseph Weisberg and FX. Green said the channel actively sought women directors and provided her “first shot” at a high-profile project, hiring her to direct an episode of Weisberg’s “The Americans.”

She quickly became an in-demand director, with “Watchmen” showrunner and executive producer Damon Lindelof among her admirers.

“Steph was the perfect fit for ‘Watchmen,’” Lindelof said, calling her “extremely talented, and more importantly, fearless. Episode five feels like it lives within the series, but its unique and wonderful glow is all attributable to Steph.”

Green, who is now in a position to hire for projects, says it remains difficult for women and people of color to get entry-level jobs and into the industry’s employment “pipeline.”

It’s a loss not only for them, she said. Early in her career, she recalled watching women direct and how differently they worked compared to men.

Sets feel “more collaborative and more nurturing, and the actors are so taken care of,” Green said. “I remember thinking just how clear it is, how well women can do this job.”