'Babygirl' director Halina Reijn reveals truth behind casting choice

Babygirl director Halina Reijn spoke out in defense of the age gap between Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in the movie.

The film, which premiered on Christmas Day, follows the story of a high-powered CEO, played by Kidman, who risks her career and family for a passionate affair with her much-younger intern, portrayed by Dickinson.

During an interview with W Magazine, Reijn addressed the casting choice by stating, “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.”

Reijn shared her perspective on breaking free from traditional norms in storytelling by saying, “We internalize the male gaze, we internalize patriarchy, and we need to free ourselves from it. It’s really hard.”

Moreover, the director revealed that Kidman reached out after seeing her 2019 film Instinct and expressed immediate interest in the lead role.

According to Daily Mail, Reijn explained, “She read a very early draft of Babygirl and said, ‘I want to play that character.’ She wanted to surrender to the story without changing anything, which was important to me because the script was controversial and surrounded by shame.”

Rein admitted that casting Dickinson as the younger love interest was equally pivotal. “It’s impossible to find a young man who’s not only as good as Kidman but can dominate her.”

As per the publication, she ultimately chose Dickinson after seeing his performance in Triangle of Sadness, describing him as “vulnerable yet masculine.”

Babygirl debuted at the Venice International Film Festival in August, where Kidman won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.

The film has since received critical acclaim, earning a 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes.