The movie Babygirl has one of the most talked-about scenes of the year, where a character named Samuel, played by Harris Dickinson, sends a glass of milk to his boss Romy, played by Nicole Kidman, and asks her to drink it. The film’s director, Halina Reijn, has shared that this scene was inspired by something that actually happened to her in real life.
In an interview with IndieWire, Reijn said she once went to a bar in Belgium after a successful stage performance. She felt very proud of herself that night. At the bar, a younger actor — someone famous in Belgium — surprised her by ordering her a glass of milk instead of something more common like a soft drink. Reijn thought it was a very bold and interesting thing to do.
“It was an incredible, brave thing to do, and it made a big impression on me,” she said. “Even though drinking the milk made me feel a little sick, the moment felt very special and stayed in my memory.”
Reijn explained that for her, true romantic or “shocking” moments aren’t just about what happens physically. Instead, they are about imagination and the emotions that are stirred by simple, unexpected actions.
This idea is clear in Babygirl. Reijn described one scene where Romy crawls on a carpet and accepts a candy from Samuel’s hand as very powerful. “That, to me, is really emotional and interesting,” she said.
The movie Babygirl is about Romy, a successful businesswoman, who risks her career by starting a risky and complicated relationship with her younger intern, Samuel. The film explores themes of power and emotion in relationships, making it a unique story.
By including this milk scene, Halina Reijn reminds us how small moments, even something as simple as a glass of milk, can leave a lasting impact.
