Nicole Kidman was recently honored at Cannes 2025 with the Kering Women in Motion Award for her efforts in championing female directors. Back in 2017, The 57-year-old actress made a vow to work with a female director every 18 months. Since then, the actress has collaborated with multiple women film and television directors across various projects. In these projects she served as either an actor, a producer, or both.
Nicole Kidman talks about working with female directors
In a recent interview with Variety’s Angelique Jackson, ahead of the Cannes 2025 awards dinner, Nicole Kidman explained her commitment to collaborating with female directors every 18 months, which has resulted in her working with 27 female directors.
“I was going to make it possible,” Kidman shared. “I was at a point where we had a discussion where there was such a disparity in terms of the choice.”
The Babygirl actress then shared how there weren’t a “number of names” when it came to considering female directors. She also pointed out how people were especially reluctant to give first-time women filmmakers a chance.
“I had to start to say this is how I am doing it,” Kidman added. “This is what I am doing.” She then said that she decided to take a risk with first-time directors and offer them mentorship, support, help, and protection.
“Because part of it is protecting and surrounding the women with almost like a forcefield of protection and support so they can do their best work,” Kidman continued. “At the same time, it’s giving them the opportunity where they feel like this isn’t the only chance. A lot of it is like, ‘OK, you get one shot.'”
Despite her support for women directors, the Nine Perfect Strangers star has no plans to transition into directing herself. She added that she found it “incredibly fulfilling” to aid filmmakers as a producer.
Check out the conversation below:
Kidman had previously called out the unfair standards women directors have faced in Hollywood in a Time Magazine interview earlier this year. She particularly noted how first-time women directors faced unwarranted pressure to “be perfect” for their debut directorials.
Kidman stressed at the time that this situation “could only be changed” by acting in films made by women.
Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on ComingSoon.
