Nicole Kidman pledged in 2017 to collaborate with a female director every 18 months. At the TIME Women of the Year Leadership Forum in Los Angeles on Tuesday, TIME Editorial Director Lucy Feldman announced that Kidman has surpassed this commitment, having worked with 19 female directors on various film and TV projects over the last eight years.
Kidman explained that her pledge was motivated by a desire to improve representation in the industry. “It was something I wanted to do because the only way to change the numbers was to actually get in the trenches and do it,” Kidman said. “And so I’m still in the trenches doing it.”
Beyond her pledge, the actress also discussed her driving forces, including a desire to provide audiences with escapism. “There’s many different facets to me, as there are to all of us,” Kidman stated. “I’m sort of trying to take a big bite out of the world and what I do, and share my opportunities with other people.” She also expressed a strong interest in creating “an incredible, incredible love story,” specifically a raw and deep film about marriage and partnership. This project is still in its initial stages, and she is contemplating writing it herself or with a collaborator.
Kidman’s recent projects in 2024, directed by women, include and . She spoke about, directed by Halina Reijn, in which Kidman plays a CEO of a company similar to Amazon who has an affair with a younger intern. Kidman praised the film’s distinctly female perspective and its successful reception. “It was incredibly female in its gaze and in its storytelling, and it was fascinating to see that be put out in the world,” she said. “But what was really great was that the film made money, so by that happening, it makes the opportunities more available for more women to write their projects.”
Kidman believes that the limited number of women directing movies and TV shows is partially due to harsher judgment, hindering their ability to learn from mistakes. “We don’t have the ability to fail upwards,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of second, third, and fourth chances for talent development. “You deserve a second, third, fourth chance,” Kidman said. “The way you develop your talent—really, is it going to be immediate? It’s going to be layer upon layer, step by step. And that requires patience.” She acknowledged her own fortunate position, having been given repeated opportunities. “I was one of the fortunate ones where I was given a chance over and over and over again, and I’m still being given that.”
Kidman expressed her appreciation for being involved in a film like Babygirl, noting its unique depiction of female sexuality. She described the film’s “radical honesty” as an intentional effort to provoke thought and conversation. The project felt new and even “dangerous,” which she found exciting.
She encouraged people to avoid harshly criticizing women and their work, advocating for growth and opportunity. “Because by doing that, we’re actually helping each other. And we’re helping the world because the stories about us being put out there build compassion and empathy and understanding,” Kidman concluded.
The Women of the Year Leadership Forum was presented by Amazon, Booking.com, Chase, Deloitte, the American Heart Association, and Toyota.
