Babygirl Director Reveals Real-Life Inspiration Behind Milk Scene
Nicole Kidman and director Halina Reijn JC Olivera/WireImage
Babygirl director Halina Reijn disclosed that the inspiration for Nicole Kidman‘s milk scene came from her own life experiences.
In an interview with W Magazine published on December 25, Reijn, 49, recalled an intriguing moment with a Belgian actor who was “significantly younger” than her. This incident occurred when she was in her 30s, after a theatrical performance in her native Netherlands, during which he sent her a glass of milk from across a bar.
“I drank it, and he just walked out,” she recounted. “I thought, ‘How does this guy muster the courage?’ I found it quite sensual and amusing at the same time.”
In a notable scene from the film, CEO Romy (Kidman) accepts a glass of milk from intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson) at a bar. As Romy drinks the milk, she locks eyes with Samuel, who returns her gaze. The film, which premiered on December 25, centers on their forbidden romance.
Nicole Kidman A24
Reflecting on the film, Reijn expressed her thoughts on Babygirl joining the trend of films featuring age-gap romances between older women and younger men. (Kidman, 57, also appeared in Netflix’s A Family Affair alongside Zac Efron, while Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine starred in Prime Video’s The Idea of You.)
“When we see films where the male lead is the same age as the female lead, it feels unusual to us. Which is baffling. There should be normalization of these age gaps and recognition that women explore diverse relationships,” Reijn remarked. “We’re no longer confined. We’ve absorbed the male perspective, and we must liberate ourselves from it. It’s genuinely challenging.”
Kidman added that “many times, women are overlooked as sexual beings once they reach a certain age.”
Monica Schipper/Getty Images Babygirl director Halina Reijn is defending the 29-year age disparity between lead actors Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson. In a recent interview with W Magazine, she was asked about the increasing trend of romantic films this year featuring older women and younger men.
“It was incredibly affirming to be represented in this way,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month. “From the moment I read the script, I knew it was a unique perspective that audiences hadn’t experienced. My character is at a point in her life where she holds significant power, yet she grapples with her identity, desires, and aspirations, despite seemingly having everything. I find that deeply relatable.”
Kidman remarked that she perceived Babygirl as a “raw and provocative” project to be part of. “I was astonished there was funding for it,” she admitted. “Partially due to its sexual themes. It wasn’t crafted for a 20-year-old, nor even a 30-year-old.”
Babygirl is now showing in theaters.
