Nicole Kidman: 'I Want to Work with Martin Scorsese, if He Does a Film with Women'
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Nicole Kidman's desire to collaborate with Martin Scorsese on a film featuring women. Kidman also expresses her interest in working with other renowned directors like Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Jones, and Paul Thomas Anderson. She highlights her spontaneous nature in selecting roles and directors, emphasizing the importance of feeling freedom and safety in a project to offer her best performance.Nicole Kidman isn't holding back when it comes to her desire to collaborate with Martin Scorsese—provided the celebrated filmmaker creates a project centered on female characters. The "Babygirl" actress and producer told Vanity Fair she’d love to work with Scorsese, but noted, "if the auteur does a film with women."
Nicole Kidman is subtly calling out Martin Scorsese
for not making features that center on female characters.
Scorsese, known for iconic male-driven films like Raging Bull, After Hours, and Goodfellas, has, in the past, worked with powerful actresses such as Sharon Stone, Lorraine Bracco, Juliette Lewis, and Margot Robbie. Ellen Burstyn even won an Oscar for her role in Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Still, Scorsese’s more recent efforts, such as The Irishman (2019), drew criticism for their limited female representation—Anna Paquin famously had only seven words of dialogue in the film.
Scorsese addressed this at the time, saying, “If the story doesn’t call for it… it’s a waste of everybody’s time.” Nevertheless, Kidman’s comment stands as a gentle nudge towards more inclusive storytelling from the auteur.
Beyond Scorsese, Kidman also expressed interest in working with Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Jonze, and Paul Thomas Anderson. She highlighted her desire to work with directors who bring out the best in their actors, noting, “I’ve always wanted to work with Michael Haneke.” Kidman spoke passionately about discovering new talents: “I find it really exciting when you see someone who’s been working steadily and then they really hit their stride.”
Reflecting on her work with Karyn Kusama on Destroyer, Kidman said, “Karyn was at a point where she was frustrated, not getting things made, but she’s since moved on to massive successes like Yellowjackets. Supporting talent when they’re at that critical stage is something I value.”
Kidman described herself as "very spontaneous" in choosing her projects. Her decisions often hinge on feeling a personal connection to a director’s vision. She recounted moments like when Susanne Bier offered her a role in Perfect Couple, or when Halina Reijn reached out for Babygirl: “I just heard the title and was already in,” she said, stressing the importance of trust and creative freedom in her collaborations.
Reflecting on her career, Kidman emphasized the close bonds she often forms with directors. "I’m very open," she said, “which is why I have to be careful in choosing projects. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s the best way to work—being vulnerable and present. And I want to continue supporting women, at every stage in their careers, to lift them up and offer my full support.”
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