Nicole Kidman Worked With 19 Female Directors in Eight Years After Vowing to Do So: Things Only Change by ‘Actually Being in the Films of Women'
Nicole Kidman made a vow in 2017 to work with a woman director every 18 months. To say she has made good on that promise would be an understatement. The Oscar winner has teamed up with a women director either as a producer or as an actor 19 times over the last eight years, with more female-directed projects already in the pipeline.
Speaking in a new interview with Time magazine, Kidman explained that one of her reasons behind making the vow is a double standard that women directors face. These filmmakers are under pressure to 'be perfect' when their movies get funded and there's no room for error. Whereas male directors are more likely to get a chance to rebound, female directors are knocked down if they don't deliver a perfect movie.
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'It can be changed,' Kidman said, 'but it can only be changed by actually being in the films of women.'
Kidman's most recent theatrical release was Halina Reijn's 'Babygirl,' and she's now the star of 'Fresh' director Mimi Cave's suburban thriller 'Holland.' Her recent television work has included Lulu Wang's 'Expats' on Amazon Prime Video and Susanne Bier's 'The Perfect Couple' on Netflix.
Time noted that 'Kidman is able to partner with so many female directors in part because she never stops working,' which is somewhat true. In addition to the projects listed above, Kidman also stars in Paramount+'s 'Lioness' and shot the second season of Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers' last year. She's starring with Jamie Lee Curtis in the series 'Scarpetta' and is in development on a sequel to 'Practical Magic.'
Kidman told Variety last year that part of the reason she stays so active as an actor is because 'there are so many opportunities in terms of being able to be of service to the people who are coming up, and using what I have and can do for people like Helena [Reijn].'
'It's very hard for me to go, 'Okay, I'm just going to take care of myself,' because I'm so much about taking care of other people,' she added. 'I'm thinking, 'I can create more work for people. I can create jobs for people.' And also, I love it. I have the passion. I've just got to take care of my body. I wish I had superpowers because I would love to be everywhere.'
Kidman concluded, 'This is what I dreamed of since I was a little girl. I love what I do so I'm going just give it my all, and then I don't go out. I go home to be with my family. We do things together. I'm not going out to nightclubs.'
Next up for Kidman is the SXSW premiere of 'Holland,' co-starring Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill and Gael García Bernal. The film is set for release on March 27 from Amazon MGM Studios.
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