Nicole Kidman and Gisèle Pelicot: The two are “women of the year”

With Nicole Kidman (57) and Gisèle Pelicot (72), among other things, two women as “Women of the Year 2025”, who have become role models for others in very different ways. While one actively drives changes in the dream factory as an actress and Hollywood icon, the other became the icon in the struggle of women against sexual violence.

The 57-year-old Kidman convinced the jury with her consistent commitment to directors in Hollywood. The Oscar winner promised in 2017 to work with at least one filmmaker every 18 months. With 19 projects in eight years, she even exceeded this promise significantly. “Something can only change if we actually play in the films of women,” Kidman is quoted from the “Time” magazine.

The choice of Gisèle Pelicot stands for the courage of a “worldwide heroine”, as the magazine emphasizes. The 72-year-old French woman made headlines from 2024 when she refused to remain anonymous in a sensational rape process. Her husband had put them under drugs for years and offered more than 70 men for abuse. He filmed the acts. Through her decision to appear publicly, she became an international symbol for surviving sexual violence. The “Time” magazine describes Pelicot as “ordinary woman who acted exceptionally in view of a personal tragedy”.

The “Time” magazine honored a total of twelve women from different areas, including in addition to Kidman and Pelicot, the actress Olivia Munn (44), who encourages other women after breast cancer diagnosis. In addition, US gymnast Jordan Chiles (23), basketball player A’ja Wilson (28), the Icelandic musician Laufey (25) and some activists were honored. With the selection, the magazine says “women who recognized a problem and have decided to be part of the solution”.