Editor’s letter

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

There have been few films in recent years that have left such a lasting impression on me as Lion has.

The stunning true adoption story of little five-year-old Saroo – who became accidentally separated from his family, then tried to navigate his way home to his mother, in the process ending up thousands of kilometres away in Kolkata – made my heart soar and break in equal measure.

The movie follows Saroo through his life on the streets, his adoption by an Australian couple, and – 25 years later – his painstaking search for his birth mother and the home he left behind.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend you do. If not to see the extraordinary performance of little Sunny Pawar, who plays Saroo so magically, then for Nicole Kidman, whose scenes, while brief in running time compared to some of the movie’s other stars, are remarkable.

Just a couple of months shy of her 50th birthday, Nicole appears to have entered a new phase of her career. The actress, who has always had the ability to polarise audiences, is garnering more attention and favour than ever before.

But, away from the cameras, Nicole has also undergone a personal transformation. She talks to Stephanie Rafanelli in this month’s magazine about the power of motherhood and how it is central to her most important perceptions of herself, but that she definitely feels the push-pull of family and career.

It’s something many of us can relate to. I’m not a Hollywood actress of course (the chorus group in a school production of Oliver is about as far as my acting career went), but as the mum of two boys, aged six and 11, I know what a juggle it can be. Just getting out the door with everyone dressed and teeth brushed can some days feel like a monumental achievement!

But it’s so worth it. I’m thrilled to have joined this wonderful team and edit a magazine I have admired all my working life. I started my magazine career on Woman’s Day, working for the amazing Wendyl Nissen – who sat in this seat before me, and who has written a terrific story in this month’s issue about post-Trump feminism. Since then I’ve worked on a variety of current affairs and lifestyle magazines, including Metro, Canvas and Viva. But The Australian Women’s Weekly is where my heart is. I’m looking forward to sharing the magazine with you each month.