Nicole Kidman’s powerful SAG Awards speech calls out ageism in Hollywood

After accepting the Screen Actors Guild Award for best female actor in a TV movie or limited series for her role in HBO’s “Big Little Lies” on Sunday night, Nicole Kidman used her acceptance speech to send an important message about aging in Hollywood.

The speech drew a standing ovation from the crowd inside L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium as she called out ageism and sexism, but also praised the entertainment industry for finally embracing women who are older than 40.

Although the 50-year-old actor had the flu, she accepted her first SAG Award with tears in her eyes, thanking all those who came before her with trailblazing performances that allowed her to be able to give the speech, especially at this point in her life.

“To receive this at this stage of my life is extraordinary, and at this time in the industry when these things are going on and for this role,” Kidman said, going on to acknowledge her fellow “Big Little Lies” nominees Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, as well as other actresses such as Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda and Judi Dench. “I want to thank you all for your trailblazing performances you’ve given over your career, and how wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old.”

“Twenty years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives,” Kidman continued. “That’s not the case now. We’ve proven, and these actresses and so many more have proven that we are potent and powerful and viable.”

Kidman wasn’t the only woman over 40 to take home a SAG Award this year: Frances McDormand, Allison Janney and Julia Louis-Dreyfus also won in their categories.

Although it does seem to be improving, ageism in Hollywood continues to be a problem. Though there are roles for women over 40, as actor Julianne Moore pointed out to InStyle last year, scripts often refer to the characters as “aging.”

“Well … everyone is aging. In literature and in movies, when people try to stop the process, it always ends in disaster. I think it’s really important to be where you are,” Moore told the magazine.

And although Jessica Lange—whom Kidman also referenced in her speech—is at a high point in her career at the age of 68 with three Emmy wins and a Golden Globe nomination since 2010, she says it’s tough to do well as a female actor once you get older.

“Ageism is pervasive in this industry,” Lange told AARP The Magazine. “It’s not a level playing field. You don’t often see women in their 60s playing romantic leads, yet you will see men in their 60s playing romantic leads with costars who are decades younger.”

In her speech, Kidman said this is “only the beginning” of a change and she hopes “the industry stays behind us, because our stories are finally being told.”

“I implore the writers, directors, studios and financiers to put passion and money behind our stories,” she said. “We have proven that we can do this. We can continue to do this, but only with the support of this industry, and that money and passion.”

You can watch Kidman’s full speech below:

Preach!