‘Babygirl’ director explains real-life encounter that inspired milk scene
Nicole Kidman’s latest cinematic endeavour, Babygirl, sees her play a CEO called Romy who has an affair with an intern, the much younger Samuel, played by Harris Dickinson. Now, director Halina Reijn has revealed that a strangely erotic milk-themed sequence from the movie was inspired by something that actually happened to her.
The movie is Reijn’s third feature-length project, following her 2019 debut movie Instinct and her popular 2022 comedy horror Bodies Bodies Bodies. With her latest film, the Dutch actor and filmmaker has made something that challenges stereotypes and depictions of older female characters who aren’t usually given erotic and romantic roles.
Babygirl sees Romy and Samuel embark on an affair filled with plenty of BDSM after the latter boldly propositions his boss. Reassuring her that she is not exploiting her power since he could report her at any time for engaging in sexual activity with an intern, the pair continue to see each other, allowing Romy to find a sense of satisfaction outside of her marriage to Jacob, played by Antonio Banderas.
The movie has received positive reviews so far, with Kidman even picking up a Golden Globe nomination for ‘Best Actress’. The controversial film is also much more rooted in real life than some might realise, with Reijn telling W Magazine that something that happened to Kidman in the film once happened to her.
The scene in which Dickinson’s character orders his boss a glass of milk at the bar, leading her to drink the whole thing while maintaining eye contact with him, was directly inspired by the time a much younger Belgian actor did the same to Reijn. She recalled, “I drank it, and he just walked out.”
“I thought, ‘How does this guy get the courage?’ I did think it was a very sensual thing to do. And I thought it was very funny,” the director continued. By turning the memory into a strangely erotic silent moment between the two, Reijn communicates the intensity and unconventional nature of their affair.
In an interview with ScreenCraft, Kidman revealed that she loved working with Reijn. “The two of us together would make the performance. Because she’s written it, she’s directing it, and I’m doing it. So it requires this kind of melding of spirits in a weird way.” Alongside Babygirl, 2024 has also seen Kidman star in A Family Affair and Spellbound, while her next role will be in the upcoming film Holland, Michigan.
Babygirl will be available to watch in UK cinemas on January 10th.
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