Wachtel, producer of CNN’s six-part docuseries The Last Movie Stars, which paints an intimate, romantic portrait of the life, love and careers of Newman and Woodward, describes her childhood with the famed couple as if something out of a suburban New England dream.

“They were incredible people,” says Wachtel. “I was so young when I met them, and I didn’t understand what a movie star was at the time. But part of that is because they were so real. They’d pick you up to go to birthday parties, Joanne made sweaters. They had this big, beautiful barn on the property, and they would entertain almost every weekend. Not in a formal way, but with everyone. Not necessarily actors. It was neighbors and friends from all walks of life. They would have everybody over and make hamburgers. They screened movies.

I saw a lot of old movies with them, from ‘Lady in the Tramp’ to ‘The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.’ It was just part of the fabric of that household. And it was a gift.”

Beyond “The Last Movie Stars,” the slate of Emmy contenders in the documentary category is rife with projects produced and directed by women, projects that elevate the impact of historical female figures who have left an indelible stamp on society. “The 1619 Project” (Netflix), directed by Nikole Hannah-Jones, “Harry & Meghan” (Netflix), directed by Liz Garbus, and “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” co-directed by Sarah Botstein and Lyn Novick (along with Ken Burns) are examples of docuseries championing women’s stories.

For Wachtel, making “The Last Movies Stars,” directed by Ethan Hawke and exec produced by Martin Scorsese, was, in effect, a love letter to those shared adolescent experiences.

Bolstering the side of Woodward that so many did not fully appreciate–from her acting prowess to her boundless love for her children–was an added boon to this endeavor.