When director Sofia Coppola took the stage to introduce a Glamour Women of the Year honoree and friend (whom she directed in this year’s “The Beguiled”), she described her as “one of the great classic actresses of our era.” Obviously, she was talking about Nicole Kidman. Name a more iconic duo, we’ll wait.

Already an Oscar winner, Kidman won an Emmy this year for her wrenching portrayal as a victim of domestic abuse in “Big Little Lies,” in addition to being a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

Upon going up to accept her award, she noted that Coppola was “an example to all of you who want to be female directors that you can do it. Sofia is female power.” And then she turned the spotlight on everyone else in the room and watching at home: “Let’s use this moment to celebrate what makes us, us.” She also gave a touching tribute to her husband Keith Urban, acknowledging that having a strong man on your side can be an asset as good as any other. “As much as I’m a strong woman, I need help and I need support.”

But she ended the night urging people not to seek comfort solely with people who are too much like us. “I truly believe that we must share the good love that we receive whenever we see it’s needed,” she said. “It’s about building bridges, because bridges bring about new adventures and change, and that’s what we need—change.”

Read Nicole’s entire speech, below.

Thank you, Glamour, for this wonderful honor.  This has been the most
extraordinary year. I use that word extraordinary in all of its
meanings.  We’re in uncharted waters.

But as we take tonight to celebrate—and I bow down to the other
honorees for their phenomenal contributions to art, culture,
exploration, human rights —I want to take a moment to say this is a
celebration of us.  What makes us us.

In my household growing up, everyone was equal.  Maybe it was because
it was a house full of scientists and academics. Or because it was the
’70s in Australia and it was a time of demonstration and change. I had
a feminist mother, but I also had a father who was supportive and
loving. It was so much about union and support. I was very fortunate
to be the recipient of these parents – supportive, empowering,
encouraging. That was their love…what we call in my home now good
love. And that is something I want to pass along to not just my own
children, but to those around me.

I’m a sister, I’m a mother, daughter, I’m a wife, I’m a career
woman…I’m a mother to four loving children, daughter of a formidable
mother and father and wife of a truly good man.  It is who I am, why
I’m standing here tonight. And I am aware that not everybody has been
as lucky as I have been.

As much as we gravitate, with all of this going on in the world, to a
safe place, to the people most like us—the people whose gender,
sexuality, race or politics we share—I’m convinced the galvanization
of all of us together is essential. I truly believe we must share the
good love wherever we see it’s needed.

One of the first things I learned in my work with UN Women to support women survivors of
violence is how critical the solidarity of others is. The feeling that
they are not alone. That there is help. So let’s speak out. Let’s
offer our support and create change. It is about building bridges.
Bridges bring understanding, empathy, bring change…

I feel deeply indebted to the people in my life who made me, me.  It
has led me to this point, to this year. To my life and my purpose in
life.  I suppose what I want to say is thank you.  Thank you for
supporting and embracing me, for allowing me to fail and to fall down
and get back up, brush off my knees, even if they’re bloodied and
fly. Thank you for the good love.  I promise to pass it on.

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