Nicole Kidman on Working With 19 Female Directors

Nicole Kidman is living by her own principles.

In an interview with Time magazine, the Oscar-winning actress discussed how she exceeded her 2017 goal of working with a female director every 18 months since the rise of the #MeToo movement. Over the last eight years, she has collaborated with at least 19 women directors on films and TV series. Kidman noted that women directors often face excessive pressure to “be perfect” with their first projects. However, the Big Little Lies actress stated, “It can be changed, but it can only be changed by actually being in the films of women.”

The actress is determined to leverage her significant star power to drive change in Hollywood. Most recently, she partnered with Babygirl director Halina Reijn on their 2024 erotic thriller. Reijn previously told The Hollywood Reporter for Kidman’s December cover story, “She is one of the few people who practices what she preaches regarding feminism and empowering women.”

One reason Kidman can collaborate with so many female directors is her relentless work ethic, often accepting roles to help create opportunities. “People work when Nicole works,” Jamie Lee Curtis, her co-star in the upcoming crime series Scarpetta, told Time. “I’m working because Nicole is working.”

However, Kidman doesn’t always see herself that way. “People say, ‘You’re a superwoman,’” she said. “I hate it.” The Lioness actress confessed she faces difficulties like anyone else, sometimes even considering leaving acting. She explained, “When there was nothing exciting or relevant coming my way, when there was massive criticism or bullying, when your self-esteem is shattered, when you’ve been hit with some massive loss or grief and think, ‘I don’t want to get out of bed. It’s too frightening.’”