Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, 57, recently took a subtle jab at Martin Scorsese for predominantly featuring male leads in his films. During her acceptance of the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, Kidman listed every director she has worked with.
When asked by Vanity Fair if there’s a director she still dreams of collaborating with, the Babygirl star named Scorsese, 81. However, she added, “I’ve always said I’d love to work with Scorsese, if he ever made a film with women.”
Along with Scorsese, Kidman also mentioned Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Jonze, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Michael Haneke as directors she hopes to work with.
Criticism of Scorsese’s Male-Centric Films
While Kidman didn’t elaborate on her remark, this isn’t the first time Scorsese has faced criticism for his male-dominated narratives. His films like Goodfellas, The Irishman, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Raging Bull largely center on male characters.
Back in 2011, Meryl Streep expressed a similar sentiment. Speaking to The Talks, she said, “I want Martin Scorsese to occasionally focus on a female character, but I’m not sure I’ll live to see that.”
Scorsese has defended his focus on masculinity, stating that his films aim to authentically portray male-dominated environments. In a 1990s interview with Entertainment Weekly, he explained, “The films I make are about men’s worlds, where women often play secondary roles.”
However, Scorsese highlighted the strength of his female characters in films like Goodfellas and Raging Bull. “I think the women in those films are strong, but they’re not the ones in the ring,” he noted.
Female-Led Projects
Despite the criticism, Scorsese has directed female-led films, though rarely. His 1974 drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore starred Ellen Burstyn, earning her an Oscar nomination.
His latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, features a powerful female lead, Lily Gladstone, who has been nominated for Best Actress. Gladstone stars alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in this adaptation of David Grann’s book.
Over the years, actresses like Cathy Moriarty, Winona Ryder, Jodie Foster, and Sharon Stone have also received Oscar nominations for their roles in Scorsese’s films.
