Ardern one of Time's most influential people

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg detailed Ardern's rise from political prodigy to the youngest female prime minister in the world. Photo: Reuters
Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg detailed Ardern's rise from political prodigy to the youngest female prime minister in the world. Photo: Reuters

Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have made Time's list of 2018's 100 most influential people alongside an eclectic group including US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, soon-to-be member of the British royal family Meghan Markle and Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman.

Time describes its list as not a measure of power or past achievements but a gauge of "individuals whose time, in our estimation, is now".

The publication also asked an equally high-powered group to write brief stories about its top 100, with former US president Barack Obama penning a tribute to the Parkland, Florida high school students who suddenly became the vanguard for gun control in America.

US President Barack Obama speaks during his last press conference at the White House in Washington
Barack Obama penned a tribute to the Parkland, Florida high school students who suddenly became the vanguard for gun control in America.
"They see the NRA and its allies - whether mealy-mouthed politicians or mendacious commentators peddling conspiracy theories - as mere shills for those who make money selling weapons of war to whoever can pay," Obama wrote.

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg detailed Ardern's rise from political prodigy to the youngest female prime minister in the world.

"In a world that too often tells women to stay small, keep quiet - and that we can't have both motherhood and a career - Jacinda Ardern proves how wrong and outdated those notions of womanhood are," Sandberg wrote.

"She's not just leading a country.

"She's changing the game.

Australian actress Nicole Kidman speaks at the Women in the World summit in London. Photo by Reuters
Australian actress Nicole Kidman speaks at the Women in the World summit in London. Photo by Reuters
"And women and girls around the world will be the better for it."

Naomi Watts wrote the blurb accompanying her longtime friend and fellow Australian actress Kidman.

"Dead Calm was released in 1989," Watts wrote.

"Big Little Lies was released in 2017.

"In the interim, Nicole Kidman has never once left our consciousness. And even after decades, she continues to break new ground."

Hugh Jackman, seen at the premiere of 'Real Steel' in Los Angeles, says he may be interested in...
Anne Hathaway wrote about her 'Les Miserables' co-star Hugh Jackman. Photo: Reuters
Jackman's  Les Miserables co-star Anne Hathaway described the Australian actor as "deeply egoless".

"I've never stopped and analysed why I love Hugh Jackman," Hathaway wrote.

"For me, it's like loving chocolate or puppies or rainbows: effortless."

Actress Priyanka Chopra described her friend Meghan Markle as a "strong, free spirit" who "found her prince, fell in love and in turn made a cynical world believe in fairy tales again".

Markle and Prince Harry, who also made the list, will wed next month.

The letter was reportedly addressed to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Photo: Reuters
Actress Priyanka Chopra described her friend Meghan Markle as a "strong, free spirit". Photo: Reuters

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It's normal, the turning of the tide.