Nicole Kidman will soon be in motion heading back to Cannes.
The Oscar winning actress — coming off a dizzying 2024 that included screen outings in Babygirl, Holland, Lioness, The Perfect Couple, A Family Affair and Expats — has been confirmed to receive the next Women in Motion Award. The honor, presented during the Cannes Film Festival from the fest itself and longtime partner Kering, will be doled out May 18 during a glamorous gala, which is typically attended by the Cannes jury, A-list stars, auteurs and industry insiders.
Kidman will be the milestone 10th Women in Motion recipient, joining a roster of honorees that includes NBCUniversal chief Donna Langley, Jane Fonda, Isabelle Huppert, Patty Jenkins, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Viola Davis, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and Salma Hayek Pinault. The award is designed to honor “female artists who, through their career and commitment, advance the place of women in cinema and in society.
Kidman has done just that, particularly in recent years following a 2017 pledge to work with a female director every 18 months. She went above and beyond that goal and has collaborated with nearly 20 since then. It was that same year, 2017, when Kidman was last in Cannes to receive the Cannes Film Festival’s 70th anniversary prize in conjunction with the world premiere of Sofia Coppola’s The Beguiled. Of course, her Cannes history dates back much further and includes such festival selections as the debut Far and Away followed by To Die For, Moulin Rouge, Dogville, Hemingway & Gellhorn, Paperboy, Grace of Monaco, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Top of the Lake: China Girl and How to Talk to Girls at Parties.
“For this anniversary edition of Women In Motion, Nicole Kidman, who fully embodies the spirit of the program, was an obvious choice,” explained Kering chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault. “Through her artistic standards, her committed choices and her concrete action to change representations in cinema, she is a powerful illustration of what Women In Motion has been defending for a decade.”
In a statement, Kidman called it a “true honor” to receive the honor from Francois and festival leaders Thierry Fremaux and Iris Knobloch. “I am proud to join this list of extraordinary women who’ve received this honor before me — artists and trailblazers I deeply admire. The Cannes Film Festival has been a part of my life for over 30 years and I am thrilled to add this incredible recognition to the many memories I’ve made here.”
Said Fremaux: “Nicole Kidman is an immensely talented actress. Her rich filmography, of which she is the patient author, and her masterful, unsettling performances have left their mark on the history of contemporary cinema. She has worked with the most emblematic directors, lending them her versatility and infinite sensitivity. Role after role, and with the nuances, strengths, and flaws specific to each character, she has portrayed women who break free from their shackles.”
Added Knobloch: “When a great actress works with nearly twenty female directors in the space of a few years, she shows the world just how vibrant and alive the talent of women in cinema really is. Through all these projects, and of course through her production company, Nicole Kidman has given those who write, direct, and tell stories all the visibility they deserve.”
The Blossom Films founder next stars in a new season of Nine Perfect Strangers on Hulu, a series that she executive produces. Other upcoming projects include Margo’s Got Money Troubles opposite Elle Fanning and Scarpetta opposite Jamie Lee Curtis.
