Nicole Kidmanto their 57 yearsis consolidating his position as one of the most dynamic figures in Hollywoodchallenging industry restrictions on offering meaningful roles for women over 50 years.
In a panorama where these roles are usually scarce, The Wall Street Journal highlights the “total cultural domination” of the actress in 2024, thanks to her work in various genres and formats.
In a year of complete cultural dominance, the Australian actress demonstrated that longevity and versatility are her greatest strengths. With performances, a diverse schedule of projects, Kidman continues to redefine what it means to be a star in a Hollywood changing.
One of Kidman’s most impressive projects in 2024 is Babygirlconducted by Halina Reijn. “She is always looking for the most intense option”noted Reijn, describing the actress’s willingness to explore human emotions from unique angles.
In an early scene, what begins as a simple script directive—sniffing a tie—becomes a display of vulnerability.
Kidman takes the scene to the extreme, showing a visceral connection with the object her character fetishizes. Equally eccentric moments, such as imitating a cat drinking milk, reinforce his commitment to authenticity.
This year, Kidman has participated in projects that span diverse genres and platforms. From a spy thriller directed by Taylor Sheridan to a romantic adaptation in Netflixits ability to switch between commercial and author formats is remarkable.
In the romantic comedy A Family Affairplays a widow in love with her daughter’s boss, a character played by Zac Efron. The film debuted at number one on the global chart. Netflix, underlining its power of attraction for global audiences.
However, Kidman does not follow a premeditated strategic plan. In his own words, his choices are guided by a visceral intuition: “I have a very strange way of choosing projects, with Babygirl“I was simply drawn to the title.”commented the actress for The Wall Street Journal.
Since 2017, Kidman has committed to working with a female director every 18 months, a goal she not only met, but surpassed. This approach led to collaborations with filmmakers such as Halina Reijn, Lulu Wang and Susanne Bier.
These directors not only highlight their artistic courage, but also their ability to attract audiences to projects that could go unnoticed.
Lulu Wang, who directed Kidman in the Amazon series, Expatspraises its ability to explore the most intense emotions of its characters.
Regarding its impact on commercial projects, Lulu Wangdirector of the series, expressed: “It’s good for business… It gives people a chance and discovers them”.
Wang told the outlet that Kidman made this suggestion based on personal experiences: “He told me that was what he did when he saw his father in the morgue, a physical reaction that he couldn’t stop.”Lulu commented.
For her part, Susanne Bier, director of The perfect couple, celebrates her penchant for extreme acting choices, describing how even Kidman’s boldest takes raise the productions’ artistic level.
Kidman executed shots considered so radical that some moments went viral on platforms such as TikTok and X. “He can do a shot so extreme that you say, ‘Wow, what was that?!’”declared Bier, while praising his ability to introduce dramatic nuances that transform the essence of the scenes.
In parallel, his image remains relevant in the public imagination. According to data from Sprout Socialmentions of Kidman on social media increased by 88% from 2022something atypical for actresses of her generation.
Part of this phenomenon is due to their participation in advertisements for cinemas. AMCwhere phrases like “We come to this place in search of magic” They became emblematic of the post-pandemic resurgence of collective experiences in movie theaters.
Asked about this impact, Kidman told The Wall Street Journal: “I do whatever it takes for people to come and sit in a movie theater and have that experience together.”.
Filmmaker Richard LaGravenese, who directed one of her recent films, noted: “She knew without me saying anything what I needed and gave me a great talk to stabilize me.”
Meanwhile, Dakota Fanningco-star in The perfect coupledescribed Kidman as an inspiration for new generations and highlighted a message that the actress gave him as advice: “Do everything, try everything and really don’t be afraid”.
Kidman adopted an increasingly free mode of operation, cementing a legacy that empowers both other actresses and the narratives in which she participates. “What happens is that I become more and more free,” he admitted when discussing how he collaborates with directors willing to understand his artistic vision.
However, she continues to reinvent herself, exploring new artistic territories and breaking the barriers that limit women in Hollywood.
