Nicole Kidman is baring it all—literally and figuratively—for her electrifying new film Babygirl, and she’s not holding back on why this role changed everything. In a no-filter interview with Variety, the Oscar winner revealed how the film’s “radious honesty” pushed her to extremes, both emotionally and physically, while igniting a fiery personal mission: “I’m done compromising. From now on, it’s female directors or nothing.”
Directed by rising indie filmmaker Lila Cruz, Babygirl dives into the raw, messy life of a single mother battling addiction and societal judgment. Kidman, 56, called the project “terrifyingly vulnerable,” admitting she filmed scenes so intimate they left her “shaking for hours.” But it wasn’t just the script’s grit that hooked her—it was Cruz’s fearless vision. “Male directors often tiptoe around female pain,” Kidman said. “Lila didn’t. She demanded the truth, not trauma porn. That’s radical.”
The Big Little Lies star didn’t stop there. She announced a bold pledge to exclusively collaborate with women directors for the next five years, slamming Hollywood’s “empty diversity promises.” “We’ve had decades of men telling women’s stories. It’s our turn now,” she declared, citing sobering stats: only 16% of 2023’s top films were directed by women.
Fans erupted online, with tweets like “NICOLE JUST CANCELED PATRIARCHY” going viral. But not everyone’s cheering. Critics argue her vow “limits opportunities,” but Kidman fired back: “Why is it ‘limiting’ to trust women? Men never get asked that.”
Cruz, meanwhile, praised Kidman’s “fearless trust,” hinting Babygirl could redefine how Hollywood portrays complex women. “Nicole didn’t just act—she unfolded,” Cruz said. “That’s the power of women holding the lens.”
Babygirl hits theaters December 15—and whether you love her stance or hate it, Kidman’s message is clear: Hollywood’s old playbook is burning. Who’s bringing the matches?