Nicole Kidman has had a busy 2024 and her latest film, “Babygirl,” looks poised for awards consideration after a buzzy world premiere in Venice. But after an illustrious forty-year career, is there anything Kidman hasn’t done? Or, more to the point, is there someone she’s always wanted to direct her but hasn’t?
Indeed there are. And according to Kidman in a new Vanity Fair interview, there’s several filmmakers she’d love to work with. At the top of the list? The legendary Martin Scorsese. “I’ve always said I want to work with Scorsese if he does a film with women,” the actress told the magazine. Is that a dig against the American auteur? Hardly. Scorsese’s male-centric filmography is a common criticism of the director, and one he’s not afraid to acknowledge either. But even if there’s a paucity of major female roles in his work, some still exist: think Sharon Stone‘s Ginger McKenna from “Casino,” Michelle Pfeiffer in “The Age Of Innocence,” or Cate Blanchett in “The Aviator.” None of those are central roles, but they’re formidable performances. Imagine Kidman digging her teeth in a character like Countess Olenska for Scorsese; that’s the stuff of dreams right there.
But Kidman mentioned several other acclaimed filmmaker she’d love to collaborate with, too. “I’d love to work with Kathryn Bigelow,” continued the actress. “I’d love to work with Spike Jonze. I’d love to work with PTA [Paul Thomas Anderson]. I’ve always wanted to work with Michael Haneke. And there’s a whole slew of new up-and-coming directors—there’s so many, and I’m always open to the discovery of new people. And I find it really exciting when you go, ‘here’s someone that’s so experienced and has been working and working, but they’ve now really hit their stride.’” Kidman mentioned “Destroyer” director Karyn Kusama as an example of that, but “Babygirl” director Halina Reijn may as well be another. After a long acting career oversea, “Babygirl” is Rejin’s fourth feature film as director, and just her second (after “Bodies Bodies Bodies“) to receive theatrical consideration stateside.
Does Kidman have a preference working with male or female directors? “Expats,” “The Perfect Couple,” “Babygirl” are all directed by women, as are two of her upcoming projects (Mimi Cave for “Holland, Michigan” and Vicky Jenson‘s “Spellbound“). Not really, confirmed the actress; she’s feels safe and happy working with either gender behind the camera. “No, I can feel that with a man, of course,” Kidman explained. “I’ve worked with some of the greatest, and I feel intimacy with most directors that I work with. I move in very quickly. I’m very open, which is why I just have to be careful how I choose. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s really the best way to approach anything.”
However, Kidman does want to use her relative star power to help launch female directors’ careers, if she’s able to. “I’m trying to support all of these women at all different ages, at all different stages in their careers,” she continued. “[I want to] put my weight behind them and go, “I’m here and I’m at your disposal and I’m ready.”
So will Kidman’s boost help Reijn and “Babygirl” this awards season? Audiences find out when the film hits theaters on Christmas Day, courtesy of A24. Check out a trailer for “Babygirl” below (and read The Playlist’s review of the movie here).
