Nicole Kidman’s letter to the sisterhood

In 2017, a year of sterling performances, Nicole Kidman spoke out against gender disparity in Hollywood. At the Cannes Film Festival in May, she vowed to collaborate with one female director every 18 months in order to boost their representation within the movie industry from a paltry 4.2 percent. It was an impressive bid of support in a year when the Oscar-winning actress had already thrown her bankability behind a number of high-prestige women’s stories – made by women, for women – on the big and small screen. The 50-year-old joined an ensemble of female actors (and Colin Farrell) in The Beguiled, a feminist retelling by Sofia Coppola of Don Siegel’s 1971 classic civil war film; she starred alongside Elisabeth Moss and Gwendoline Christie in the much anticipated second series of Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake; and delivered an astonishing and often painful to watch performance as abused wife Celeste in Big Little Lies, which she co-produced with Reese Witherspoon, drawing on her 10 years working with abuse victims with UN Women.

That experience of working with other women – and supportive men – to fight for equality and against oppression, led Kidman to write this letter for PORTER, reminding us that the answer to our issues lies in each other.

To my 3.5 billion strong and beautiful sisters,

The idea that women and men are equal is part of my DNA. I was raised by a strong feminist mother and a fully supportive father, so it never occurred to me that I should be at a disadvantage because I was born a girl. This conviction has helped me tremendously as I have pursued my career as an actor and a producer. It has guided my choices to often portray strong, independent women who went against the expectations of society. And it has been my driving force to make it in an industry that is still largely run by men.

My feminist roots have also led me to UN Women and my work as its Goodwill Ambassador. It is in this role that I have come to fully understand the barriers that women around the world are facing. I have focused on lending my voice to women who are survivors of violence. The stories I have heard from them have shaken me to the core and changed me forever. First and foremost, because of the suffering and abuse the women who spoke to me had endured, and because I am aware of the devastating fact that one-in-three women and girls globally will be subjected to violence. But very much also because of their resilience. And because I saw firsthand how crucial the support of others was for them to be able to reclaim their lives.

Each of us, in ways big or small, will come across challenges, often arising out of the fact that we are women in a still unequal world. It has happened to me; I am sure it has to you. In those moments, I like to think of those who had my back, who lifted me up and encouraged me to believe in myself. And I think of the inspiring solidarity I experienced when meeting with survivors of violence during my travels for UN Women.

For me, this has truly turned into a life lesson. More than ever, I am aware of the need to support and celebrate each other. I like to believe that I am part of a global support network of 3.5 billion – half of humanity – who stand up for the rights of every human being to live a life free from discrimination, injustice and violence. Our cheerleaders who lend a helping hand so we can realize our respective dreams and goals, who in moments of self-doubt provide the assurance that we are strong and beautiful in myriad ways, and who tell us that yes, we can do whatever we set our minds on.

Imagine: if you can fall back on 3.5 billion sisters, and the many good men who are with us, what could we possibly not achieve? It is a thought that I carry with me wherever I go and try to be true to. Join me?

Nicole Kidman