Simon Baker says the women’s empowerment movement has led to the the realization that men need “to grow.”

“That’s one of the obvious fantastic byproducts of [the movement] is that men are being forced now to have to grow and develop,” he told Page Six at a screening of his directorial debut, “Breath,” on Thursday night. “The notion of ‘toxic masculinity’ [is] being handed down through generations … now is the time that people need to understand that becoming who you are doesn’t mean you have to conform to a prescribed identity.”

Hugh Jackman and his wife, Deborra-lee Furness, hosted the screening of the 48-year-old Baker’s film, a coming-of-age story about two boys in Australia, based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Tom Winton. Baker also stars in the film.

“This film is in a lot of ways representative of a period that I’m hoping is ending, which is about prescribed identity,” the actor-turned-director said, adding, “the traditional notions of masculinity should be dissolved and rethought.”

Also known for his roles in “The Mentalist” and “The Devil Wears Prada” — which Baker was appropriately dressed in for the night — said he could relate to the book, having also grown up in Australia and struggled with conforming to gender norms.

“For me there’s a lot of times where I was a young man [and] I felt like I failed to comply to what was accepted as masculine and there’s a heartbreak to that and I think it should be a strength,” he explained.

As for his relationship with the “Greatest Showman” star and fellow Aussie, Jackman, Baker is grateful to have a friend who supports his venture into directing.

“He is involved in massive blockbuster films,” he said of Jackman, whom he knew before he came to the States. “Small independent films like this need every chance they can get and I’m eternally grateful to him [for wanting] to help to get it out there, its just a really nice gesture.”

Jackman. who was dressed casually in jeans and a white button-down shirt, was seen purchasing a Coke and a root beer from the theater’s concession before heading into the screening.