Nicole Kidman Honored at Cannes for Championing Women Directors

At the Cannes Film Festival 2025, Nicole Kidman received the Kering Women in Motion Award in recognition of her dedication to promoting female directors. Going back to 2017, the 57-year-old actress pledged to work with a female director every one and a half years. Since making this promise, Kidman has partnered with numerous women film and television directors on various productions, where she has taken on roles as both an actor and producer.

Nicole Kidman reveals she has worked with 27 female directors

During an upcoming conversation with Angelique Jackson from Variety, just before the Cannes Awards Gala in 2025, Nicole Kidman discussed her dedication to teaming up with female directors approximately every 18 months. This decision led her to collaborate with a total of 27 different women directors.

Kidman expressed, ‘I intended to find a way to make it happen.’ We reached a stage where our views on the decision were so different.

After the actress from Babygirl spoke, she explained that there wasn’t much variety in choosing female directors. Furthermore, she highlighted that offering a debut opportunity to first-time woman filmmakers was often met with hesitation.

Kidman clarified her approach by stating, ‘This is the method I’ve chosen,’ followed by, ‘And this is what I’m implementing.’ Subsequently, she revealed that she chose to venture into uncharted territory with first-time directors, providing them guidance, support, assistance, and protection.

Kidman explained, ‘Part of it involves creating a protective and supportive environment for the women, much like a shield. This allows them to perform at their peak. Simultaneously, it offers them a chance that doesn’t feel like their only option, as if they are given just one shot.’

Although she advocates for female directors, the actress from Nine Perfect Strangers currently doesn’t intend to become a director herself. Instead, she finds immense satisfaction in helping filmmakers as a producer.

Check out the conversation below:

Earlier this year, during an interview with Time Magazine, Kidman pointed out the unjust standards that female directors often encounter in Hollywood. Specifically, she highlighted the unnecessary expectation placed on first-time female directors to excel flawlessly in their initial directorial efforts.

At that point, Kidman emphasized that the situation could be altered exclusively through participating in films directed by women.

2025-05-19 17:10

Nicole Kidman reveals she has worked with 27 female directors

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