On May 18, 2025, the glittering lights of the Cannes Film Festival illuminated a milestone moment as Nicole Kidman accepted the 10th Women in Motion Award at the Kering gala dinner, held at the Place de la Castre overlooking the Croisette. The award, presented by Kering and the Cannes Film Festival, celebrated Kidman’s decades-long career and her fierce advocacy for gender equality in cinema. Her acceptance speech, delivered to a star-studded audience including Juliette Binoche, Julianne Moore, and Paul Mescal, reaffirmed her 2017 pledge to work with female directors, a promise she has surpassed by collaborating with 27 women filmmakers in eight years. Kidman’s commitment mirrors the trailblazing efforts of Jodie Foster, another Cannes favorite, whose own advocacy for women in film has left an indelible mark. This article explores Kidman’s journey, her impact on gender equality, and how her work parallels Foster’s, weaving a narrative of two icons reshaping Hollywood.

The Women in Motion Award: A Beacon for Change

Launched in 2015 by Kering, a luxury group and official Cannes partner, the Women in Motion program aims to spotlight women’s contributions to cinema, both on and off screen. The award honors female artists who advance gender equality, with past recipients including Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, and Salma Hayek Pinault. Kidman’s selection as the 10th honoree was, as Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault stated, “an obvious choice” for her “artistic standards, committed choices, and concrete action to change representations in cinema.” Her work through Blossom Films, founded in 2010, and her vocal advocacy have amplified women’s voices, making her a fitting successor to luminaries like Foster, who has similarly championed inclusivity.

Kidman’s acceptance speech was a clarion call. “I’m an advocate and want to continue moving forward with that. It ain’t over,” she declared, referencing her 2017 pledge to work with a female director every 18 months. Since then, she has collaborated with 27 women directors, including Sofia Coppola (The Beguiled), Halina Reijn (Babygirl), and Mimi Cave (Holland). This surpasses her initial goal, reflecting a deliberate strategy to mentor and protect emerging talent. “I had to say, ‘This is how I’m doing it. We’ll take the risk,’” she told Variety at a Women in Motion talk. “The only way is to show up and say, ‘I’m here. I’ll be in your film.’”

A Career Built on Bold Choices

Kidman’s journey to this moment began with her breakout role in Dead Calm (1989), a psychological thriller that showcased her range. Her collaborations with auteurs like Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut), Jane Campion (The Portrait of a Lady), and Lars von Trier (Dogville) established her as a versatile actress unafraid of complex, unsettling roles. Her Oscar-winning portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours (2002) cemented her as a force, but it was her founding of Blossom Films in 2010 that marked her as a changemaker. The production company became a platform for female-driven stories, with Big Little Lies (2017) winning Emmys for its raw depiction of domestic violence and sisterhood, co-produced and starring Kidman.

Her 2017 Cannes appearance, where she presented The Beguiled and called out the industry’s gender disparity—only 4% of major films were directed by women—ignited her pledge. By 2025, she had worked with directors like Andrea Arnold (Big Little Lies Season 2), Karyn Kusama (Destroyer), and Susanne Bier (The Undoing), amplifying their voices. Her recent role in Babygirl, a provocative thriller, earned her a Venice best actress prize and a Golden Globe nomination, underscoring her commitment to bold, female-led projects.

Jodie Foster: A Parallel Legacy

Jodie Foster’s career offers a striking comparison to Kidman’s, both in artistic audacity and advocacy. At 62, Foster, a two-time Oscar winner for The Accused (1988) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991), has long championed women in film. Like Kidman, she has worked with visionary directors—Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver), David Fincher (Panic Room)—and taken on roles that challenge stereotypes, such as Clarice Starling, a fierce yet vulnerable FBI trainee. Foster’s directorial work, including The Beaver (2011) and episodes of Black Mirror and Orange Is the New Black, showcases her commitment to storytelling that empowers women.

Foster’s advocacy, while less formalized than Kidman’s pledge, is equally impactful. As a producer, she has supported female-driven projects like The Bold Type, and her mentorship of young actresses, including Kristen Stewart in Panic Room, mirrors Kidman’s support for emerging directors. Foster’s 2018 Golden Globes speech, where she spoke on the #MeToo movement, emphasized systemic change, a sentiment Kidman echoed at Cannes 2025 when addressing ageism: “There’s the emerging talents and then the ones still going who have a wealth of knowledge and have somehow been cast out.” Both women have used their platforms to challenge industry norms, with Foster focusing on representation and Kidman on direct action through collaboration.

Their approaches differ in execution. Kidman’s pledge is a measurable commitment, with 27 female directors by 2025, compared to Foster’s more organic advocacy through directing and producing. Yet, both share a refusal to accept the status quo. Foster’s 2025 Cannes appearance, where she starred in her first French-speaking lead role, highlighted her versatility, much like Kidman’s daring choices in Babygirl and The Hours. Foster’s hands-on relief work in the Texas floods of 2025, where she found a victim’s phone with a heartfelt voicemail, parallels Kidman’s UNICEF and UN Women ambassadorship, showing both women extend their influence beyond cinema.

The Gender Equality Fight: Progress and Challenges

Kidman’s award comes at a critical juncture. Women in Motion data shows that female directors rose from 7.5% to 13.6% of top 100 U.S. box office films between 2015 and 2024, a modest gain. At Cannes 2025, seven of 22 competing films were directed by women, including Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, a notable increase but still far from parity. Kidman’s advocacy addresses this gap head-on. “When there was such a disparity in choice, you’d wonder, ‘Could a woman direct this?’” she said, reflecting on 2017’s landscape. Her work with directors like Halina Reijn and Mimi Cave ensures women get opportunities, while her production of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers creates spaces for female narratives.

Foster’s contributions, though less quantified, are equally significant. Her directorial work, often tackling complex female characters, challenges the industry’s tendency to sideline women over 40, a point Kidman emphasized at Cannes: “Resisting ageism is important. We need to give women better roles as they get older.” Foster’s roles in The Accused and Nyad (2023) portray women defying societal constraints, much like Kidman’s characters in The Hours and Destroyer. Both actresses have produced projects—Foster with Flora Plum and Kidman with The Undoing—that prioritize female perspectives, amplifying voices often ignored.

Critics note differences in their activism. Kidman’s structured pledge contrasts with Foster’s broader, less publicized efforts. Some, like critic Debiparna Chakraborty, argue Kidman’s focus on female directors lacks intersectionality, as she has not publicly addressed issues like the Gaza crisis, unlike Foster’s peers such as Susan Sarandon. Foster, while vocal on #MeToo, has been quieter on global issues but more hands-on in crises, as seen in her Texas flood relief work. Kidman’s UN Women role, raising millions for women’s rights, complements Foster’s philanthropy, though Foster’s directorial output gives her a unique edge in shaping narratives from behind the camera.

The Cannes Moment: A Shared Vision

The Women in Motion gala, attended by stars like Charli XCX, Sean Penn, and Dakota Johnson, was a celebration of Kidman’s impact. Introduced by Thierry Frémaux, who recalled her Moulin Rouge! premiere in 2001, Kidman spoke passionately about supporting women. “We need to mentor, protect, and invest in female directors,” she said, urging financial backers to take risks on new talent. Brazilian director Marianna Brennand, honored with the Emerging Talent Award, praised Kidman’s influence, noting her support for Manas, a film about sexual violence.

Foster’s presence at Cannes 2025, though not tied to Women in Motion, amplified the narrative of female empowerment. Her French-language role in Marianne showcased her willingness to take risks, mirroring Kidman’s bold choices. Both women, as Variety noted, resist ageism by embracing challenging roles and mentoring younger talent. Foster’s discovery of Jeff Ramsey’s voicemail during Texas flood relief efforts added a humanitarian layer to her Cannes visit, echoing Kidman’s UN Women work. Their shared commitment to uplifting women—Kidman through production, Foster through directing—creates a powerful synergy, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers.

A Legacy of Impact

Kidman’s Women in Motion Award underscores her role as a catalyst for change. Her 27 collaborations with female directors, from Sofia Coppola to Andrea Arnold, have shifted industry dynamics, though she acknowledges the work is unfinished. “That 13.6% still seems incredibly low,” she told Variety, pushing for more investment in women. Foster, with her directorial and acting achievements, complements this mission, her work on Orange Is the New Black and Money Monster fostering diverse voices. Both women, through their platforms, challenge Hollywood’s male-dominated structures, with Kidman’s production focus and Foster’s storytelling reshaping narratives.

Fans on X celebrated Kidman’s award, with posts like “Nicole’s changing the game for women in film! 🌟” and “Jodie and Nicole are icons for equality. 🙌” Their legacies, intertwined yet distinct, show that advocacy can take many forms—Kidman’s structured pledge and Foster’s multifaceted contributions both driving progress. As Kidman prepares for Practical Magic 2 and Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2, and Foster continues directing, their influence endures, proving that true stardom lies in lifting others. In Cannes’ golden light, Kidman’s award and Foster’s parallel efforts illuminate a path toward a more equitable cinema, one bold choice at a time.