Babygirl Director Justifies Nicole Kidman & Harris Dickinson’s Age Gap: “It Should Be Fully Accepted”

Babygirl: Challenging Age Norms in Romantic Relationships

Director Halina Reijn sheds light on a refreshing perspective in cinema, especially regarding the representation of older women in relationships with younger men. The film Babygirl centers around Romy, a driven CEO portrayed by Nicole Kidman, who risks everything—including her career and family—for an affair with her much younger intern, Samuel, played by Harris Dickinson. The film also features a talented supporting cast, including Antonio Banderas, Esther Rose McGregor, and Sophie Wilde.

In a candid interview with W Magazine, Reijn passionately advocates for the normalization of on-screen relationships between older women and younger men. She critiques societal norms and patriarchy, emphasizing the diversity in female relationships. Reijn strongly believes that it should be entirely acceptable to depict older women pursuing love with younger partners. Here’s a powerful excerpt from her interview:

If we see a movie where the male actor is the same age as the female actor, we find that odd. Which is insane. It should completely be normalized that the age gaps switch and that women have different relationships. We’re not trapped in a box anymore. We internalize the male gaze, we internalize patriarchy, and we need to free ourselves from it. It’s really hard.

The Age Gap in Babygirl

A Noteworthy 30-Year Age Difference

Sophie Wilde and Nicole Kidman in Babygirl

With Nicol Kidman being 57 and Harris Dickinson at 28, their on-screen pairing highlights a significant 30-year age difference, a topic that has generated much discussion leading up to Babygirl‘s release. This trend of featuring older women in relationships with younger men is steadily gaining traction within the film industry. Kidman also stars in the 2024 film A Family Affair, where her character navigates romance with Zac Efron, who is 20 years younger.

While Romy’s affair with Samuel carries inherent risks to her professional and personal life, Reijn ensures that their dynamic is depicted in a genuine and relatable manner. The film challenges the stigma often associated with such relationships, advocating for a narrative where older women can explore connections with younger men without prejudice.

The Significance of Reijn’s Comments

Embracing Age Diversity in Film Relationships

Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman in Babygirl

The emergence of films like Babygirl and A Family Affair showcases Nicole Kidman’s role as a pioneer in the evolving Hollywood landscape, where older women in romantic roles are becoming more prevalent. Historically, the industry often lionized relationships where older men paired with significantly younger women, rarely questioning the narrative. Reijn’s assertion serves as a reminder that there is nothing inherently irregular about the portrayal of a relationship between an older woman and a younger man within cinematic storytelling.

These shifts in representation not only encourage broader discussions about age and relationships but also empower viewers to challenge traditional norms. As audiences become more receptive to diverse narratives, the hope is that filmmakers will continue to create inclusive stories that celebrate the multifaceted nature of love.

Source: W Magazine

Source & Images