What is the age gap in the relationship depicted in Babygirl? The Director defends the age difference and claims it should be "normalized"

Halina Reijn, the director of the recently released erotic thriller Babygirl, has spoken out in defense of the age-gap romance depicted in the film, which stars Nicole Kidman as a 57-year-old tech CEO engaged in a relationship with her 28-year-old intern, portrayed by Harris Dickinson.

The 29-year age difference between the characters has drawn attention, sparking discussions about gender dynamics and societal norms. Reijn emphasized that such relationships should be normalized, especially when the older partner is a woman.

In a December 25 interview with W Magazine, Reijn, 49, discussed the portrayal of unconventional relationships in Babygirl, which joins the growing list of films exploring May-December romances, such as The Perfect Find, The Idea of You, and A Family Affair.

"If we see a movie where the male actor is the same age as the female actor, we find that odd. Which is insane," she remarked, addressing societal double standards. "It should completely be normalized that the age gaps switch and that women have different relationships."

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Nicole Kidman embraces her complex role in

Babygirl

In Babygirl, Kidman plays Romy, a married and successful tech executive who risks her career and family by engaging in an affair with Dickinson’s Samuel, an intern at her company. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month, Kidman expressed her excitement for the role, noting its unique perspective.

"A lot of times women are discarded at a certain period of their career as a s*xual being. It was really beautiful to be seen in this way. My character has reached a stage where she’s got all this power, but she's not sure who she is, what she wants, what she desires, even though she seems to have it all. And I think that’s really relatable."

Reijn, known for her work on Bodies Bodies Bodies, has explained that she wanted Babygirl to pay homage to the erotic thrillers of the 1990s, such as Basic Instinct and 9½ Weeks. She also wanted to portray intimacy realistically.

"S*xuality is stop-and-go. It's never like a glamour scene from a Hollywood movie in the '90s. That’s just not how it works," she told W Magazine.

Reijn has positioned Babygirl as a commentary on deeply rooted societal norms. "We internalize the male gaze, we internalize patriarchy, and we need to free ourselves from it. It’s really hard," she said, advocating for broader acceptance of age-gap relationships that challenge traditional gender dynamics.

She further elaborated on this theme in a December 26 interview with filmmaker Eugene Kotlyarenko for Interview Magazine, stating that America’s complex relationship with s*xuality served as an inspiration for the film. Reijn described her exploration of power dynamics and societal repression as deeply personal.

Babygirl is currently showing in theaters and also features Antonio Banderas in a supporting role. With its bold narrative and thought-provoking themes, the film invites audiences to reconsider outdated stereotypes surrounding relationships and women's sexuality. Kidman continues to balance a diverse career, with other recent projects including A Family Affair on Netflix.