Julianne Moore warns gender equality still distant at Cannes event

CANNES, France — Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore said achieving true gender equality remains a long way off as she received an award recognizing her support for women in film during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday night.

The event, organized by French luxury group Kering through its Women in Motion initiative, gathered guests overlooking Cannes’ yacht-filled bay at the historic Place de la Castre. Among those in attendance were actors Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Colman Domingo, and Odessa A'zion.

Speaking to Reuters ahead of the ceremony, Moore said gender inequality extends far beyond the entertainment industry.

“We’re pretty far away, honestly, in lots of the world in terms of real gender equality,” Moore said. “It’s not something that is endemic to the film industry. It’s something that’s a global issue.”

Moore began her acting career in daytime television, including the soap opera As the World Turns, before becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2015 for her role as a university professor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in Still Alice.

Known for using her platform to advocate for social and political causes, Moore has consistently spoken about the need for greater equality and representation both in the film industry and in society.

Actress and producer Salma Hayek praised Moore during the event, describing her as “consistently brilliant for decades” and calling her an inspiration.

Women in Motion, launched by Kering in 2015 to highlight women’s contributions to cinema and the arts, also awarded its 50,000-euro emerging talent prize to Italian filmmaker Margherita Spampinato. The grant will support the production of her second feature film.

At a separate event on Saturday, Moore compared the push for better female representation to “a mouse getting through a wall,” saying progress happens “one bite at a time” through steady effort, mindful decisions, and creating more opportunities for women in the industry. 

-Reporting by Miranda Murray and Hanna Rantala; Editing by Chris Reese/Reuters