Nicole Kidman Interview on ‘Babygirl,’ Keith Urban, Daughters & Career

Nicole Kidman’s new movie, Babygirl, opens with a scene moviegoers might imagine they’ve seen many occasions earlier than — an actress having a really fairly orgasm. For a world film star with 5 Oscar nominations and two Emmys, you would possibly even think about the opening risqué. But it’s what follows that reveals Kidman to be in contemporary cinematic territory and why she calls this function “a calling.” In subsequent scenes, director Halina Reijn divulges that the meant viewers for the opening breathy efficiency had been the character’s good-looking, loving husband (Antonio Banderas) — and Kidman delivers different, way more feral climaxes with out him. In the A24 film, a gender-flipped love letter to erotic thrillers like 9½ Weeks and Basic Instinct, Kidman performs a robust CEO, spouse and mom whose attraction to a brazen younger male intern (Harris Dickinson) threatens to explode her Instagram-perfect life.

It’s a bracingly weak efficiency, provocative even for the lady who raised eyebrows 25 years in the past with Eyes Wide Shut, and a job that caps a 12 months during which Kidman is, seemingly, in every single place. Her six 2024 initiatives embrace the soapy Netflix homicide thriller The Perfect Couple, which turned probably the most watched authentic streaming collection within the U.S. in September; the Taylor Sheridan spy thriller collection Lioness on Paramount+; and Lulu Wang’s status drama collection for Amazon Prime, Expats. The crush of output is thanks partly to a scheduling quirk attributable to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, nevertheless it additionally displays the rarefied place during which Kidman finds herself at age 57, extra in demand than ever. 

While a lot of Hollywood appears to have seen the hiring of extra girls in roles of inventive management as a post-#MeToo speaking level, Kidman has taken on the duty in earnest, working with a shocking 21 feminine administrators up to now seven years as an actress or a producer. “She is among the few individuals who practices what she preaches on the subject of feminism and empowering girls,” Reijn says. She additionally has locked arms with feminine co-producers like Reese Witherspoon on HBO’s Big Little Lies and Jamie Lee Curtis, who’s producing the upcoming Amazon Prime collection Scarpetta, during which Kidman performs the title character from Patricia Cornwell’s e-book collection a couple of medical expert. (“I’m studying all about autopsies,” Kidman says. “I do know the place all of the physique components are.”)

Kidman, who’s being honored with The Hollywood Reporter’s Sherry Lansing Leadership Award for her skilled and philanthropic contributions, paused her breakneck schedule to speak with THR from the house in Nashville that she shares together with her husband, nation musician Keith Urban, and daughters Sunday, 16, and Faith, 14, about why Babygirl felt so “harmful” to make, what her agent advised her at age 40 that she didn’t imagine and what she does together with her — no kidding — downtime.

You described this film to me as “a calling.” What was the calling?

A number of occasions girls are discarded at a sure interval of their profession as a sexual being. So it was actually stunning to be seen on this means. From the minute I learn it, I used to be like, “Yeah, it is a voice I haven’t seen, it is a place that I haven’t been, I don’t assume audiences have been.” My character has reached a stage the place she’s obtained all this energy, however she’s undecided who she is, what she needs, what she wishes, regardless that she appears to have all of it. And I feel that’s actually relatable. There are many ladies who’re going, “Well, I’ve achieved this, I’ve obtained youngsters, I’ve obtained this husband, and what do I truly need? Who am I and what are my wishes? Do I’ve to fake to be one thing else for folks to like me?” I feel it’s very releasing, this movie. I hope it’s. I’ve had some folks say it’s probably the most disturbing movie they’ve ever seen, which I’m like, “Oh no, I’m so sorry.”

I noticed the film in a tiny screening room in West Hollywood, and afterward some older girls within the girls’ room requested me to clarify some issues. I felt unequipped for the dialog. I steered some issues for them to Google.

What have been they asking you to clarify?

Why your character was turned on by sure issues. Like by a man getting a misbehaving canine to heel.

The canine is a metaphor concerning the beast inside us. It’s sort of wonderful that the ladies are asking that. That’s the illustration of what you’re taming inside you. A number of it’s about energy and what that does to you sexually.

There’s a really memorable sequence the place Harris Dickinson’s character lifts you in a bathrobe whereas the George Michael tune “Father Figure” performs. I’m fairly positive this shall be your subsequent meme.

I really like that [director Halina Reijn] put me within the bathrobe in that scene, and it’s not a silk bathrobe, it’s a terry. I used to be like, “Yes, let me sit on this chair and he can dance.” It’s a twist on 9½ Weeks, after which it’s additionally a bit messy. It was confronting for me, which I really like. I used to be like, “Golly, OK.”

Do you think about it a praise to be memed?

Of course. You’ve obtained to let go and have the ability to make enjoyable of your self. It’s very a lot an Australian trait, however I feel it’s a crucial trait for all times. I do know who I’m. I attempt to keep deeply targeted on my genuine self and stick with that. Everything else is past my management. But let’s wait and see what occurs with the [memes from] Babygirl. I could also be terribly upset the subsequent time you discuss to me.

I watched Keith’s speech at your AFI tribute final spring, and he closed it by calling you “babygirl.” Is this a phrase that had which means to you earlier than you bought this script?

Even although the phrase “babygirl” now’s used to explain males, proper? [Editor’s note for our less chronically online readers: “Babygirl” is TikTok slang for an attractive man.] Babygirl is one thing that Keith has all the time used for me. That is separate. That stays in a separate compartment, that’s not up for public consumption. But then after I learn it, I used to be like, “I’ve not learn a movie like this.” I assumed it was extremely horny. Really simply so uncooked and harmful, and I couldn’t imagine they have been giving us the cash to make it.

What felt to you probably the most harmful a part of it?

The sexuality of it. That it wasn’t written for a 20-year-old. It wasn’t written even for a 30-year-old.

How did you determine learn how to play the various kinds of orgasms within the film?

(Kidman covers her face with each fingers.) I blush, nonetheless! That’s insane. But that’s a very good factor, I suppose. I’m very involved in exploring these issues, however I’m not that extroverted. I used to be so in character. To pull the curtain again on all of it, it’s too sacred.

Well, let’s attempt to pull again the curtain just a little. The film begins with what I’ll name a “Hollywood orgasm” together with her husband, which means it’s all concerning the presentation, all for him. Later, we see orgasms the place she’s not frightened what anybody thinks of her, and so they look and sound very totally different.

Those ones could not look fairly or sound fairly. Or be what we predict is fairly. Halina has all the time wished to do one thing like this. That’s in all probability why we consistently say we’d like girls in all areas of filmmaking, telling totally different tales. It’s not simply to be extra truthful. It’s often because it’s sort of fascinating. And for folks to really feel, “I might be who I’m.” I need folks to go see this within the cinema, not simply clicking on this at residence, secretly, watching it in their very own little secret means. There’s one thing extraordinary about seeing it with a gaggle of individuals.

There’s a sequence in Babygirl the place your character is present process all these totally different remedies — the chilly plunge, the Botox. What did that sequence signify to you?

She’s doing every little thing to go, “Help me to be what I feel I needs to be, assist me be regular. Help me sustain with what I have to be. I’m preventing this shedding battle.” [In a later scene,] she’s making an attempt to say, “This is who I’m. I’ve tried to be every little thing you wished me to be, and I can’t, and can you’re keen on me anyway?”

What determines the kind of roles that you just say sure to proper now?

You all the time really feel there’s a restricted period of time, and I’m making an attempt to share what I’ve. The business, it appears like there’s all the time this clock. I’m additionally elevating my daughters and I’ve my marriage. I’ve loads of girlfriends. I’ve a really, very tight household and never simply my instant household. I’ve my sister, who’s about to reach over right here from Australia to Nashville for Thanksgiving. She has six children. They’re all coming. Her niece is already right here together with her boyfriend staying with us.

To Stellan Skarsgard, whom I labored with on Dogville, I stated, “How do you do it?” Because loads of the Europeans work so much, and he notably does, however he has so many children. He goes, “They include me and we create a house and we deliver folks in and all of us dwell collectively and we’re on the journey collectively.” That’s kind of what I do. I incorporate my household into it. And as a result of I’ve a musician husband, he’s obtained that barely nomadic factor as properly. So he’s not somebody that goes, “No, I’ve to remain right here. I can’t transfer.” My women, I’ve all the time stated, “You are of the world, you’re international youngsters.” That’s what we do as a household. We journey and we expertise issues. And that’s a terrific schooling, too.

Is there a Kidman-Urban Google household calendar?

No, now we have breakfast collectively each morning, and now we have dinner. How can we do it? I’m sort of undecided. We discuss so much. I additionally go residence early from events. If you don’t exit so much, I feel you’ve much more time than you notice. So I don’t say sure to many issues, occasions and issues like that.

You’re in all probability not scrolling TikTookay all day.

I’ve by no means been on TikTookay. I’ve folks round me that go, “Did you see this on TikTookay?” So then they’ll present me a few seconds of it, and I’ll be like, “Oh my God. That’s so humorous.”

What is your relationship to social media usually?

Ten minutes a day. What’s yours?

Uh … greater than that. A mortifying period of time.

Don’t you’ve the timer?

I ignore the timer.

You ignore the timer?! I’m simply not, my psyche’s not, I can’t deal with that stuff.

What do you continue to wish to do together with your time?

I’d do a play. I want to hike Machu Picchu. I wish to go snowboarding, so I’ve to not be filming to ski. I really like mountaineering in Austria. My husband and I wish to go do this. And then we wish to take the ladies to Japan on spring break. And a number of swimming within the ocean. I discover the ocean very, very soothing. I simply love the magnitude of it; it places every little thing into perspective for me. But I additionally love mountains. The one factor that I discover torturous is that if I’m held captive in a room and I can’t get out for twenty-four hours. I simply want contemporary air, I must get out and have the ability to stroll. They name it forest bathing.

And can you do all that as a public determine?

I’m about to go forest bathing proper now, taking my niece up into the mountains right here [in Tennessee].

I’m sorry about your lack of your mother this 12 months. What was she like?

She was all the time the neatest individual within the room. She would problem you on all of your concepts or your work. I used to be unhappy she didn’t get to see Babygirl. She simply had an infinite quantity of knowledge and humor, very irreverent. She would see by way of every little thing. And she’d all the time say to me that I used to be all the time trying on the world with rose-colored glasses.

Your mother’s era of girls was not essentially inspired to have skilled ambition. Were there issues she wished to do however wasn’t capable of?

Definitely. Which is unhappy, however she shared all of that with us and put it into her daughters [Kidman’s sister, Antonia, is a journalist turned lawyer]. And she cherished my profession. She’d go, “That was superb,” or, “The writing on this wasn’t good.” When she stated one thing was good, you simply kind of virtually fell at her toes. Growing up, she would take me to the opera. She knew a lot about artwork. I got here from that very tutorial residence the place it was like, “Well, the place’s your diploma?” And I’m like, “I obtained my diploma in performing.” We would learn novels after which we’d focus on them, or we’d focus on an artwork exhibition.

I interviewed you in 2010 once you had Rabbit Hole popping out and also you have been simply beginning to produce. One factor I bear in mind was that you just had gotten concerned with ensuring there could be sufficient porta-potties on set. That appeared unusually hands-on. Now that we’re 13, 14 years down the street, how has your type as a producer modified?

I’m what you want me to be. I didn’t produce Babygirl. I’m an actor that was provided a job. But scrappy filmmaking, I understand how to do this. You’ve obtained to have a way of a schedule and caring for a crew. That’s simply grow to be innate. On Babygirl, [to save money] we have been capturing within the A24 places of work.

In the decade-plus since Rabbit Hole, you’ve had a really, very busy period as an actress, which additionally feels uncommon. You have been in your early 40s …

I had my child, Sunday, who’s 16 now. It was at that crossroads, truly, the place you go, “Oh, I’m both going to float away now or issues will solidify.” You have been advised to retire at a sure age. Things are altering now, don’t you assume? Doors are opening. People reside longer and there’s extra to be stated, and extra tales to be advised. There’s girls’s drugs, which we’re capable of now have entry to in a greater means the place we all know what’s taking place to ourselves. It’s about whether or not you continue to really feel vibrant and alive. And that has so much to do with nourishing your soul and staying in a spot of curiosity and never sleepy. Dreamy is nice, however not sleepy.

My agent, Kevin Huvane, after I was 40, was like, “It’s not over, Nicole. It’s going to start now.” And I used to be like, “What? No, I feel it’s over,” and he’s like, “Uh-uh.” He’s Meryl’s agent. I even have loads of help. I’ve a producing companion [Blossom Films’ Per Saari]. My husband is a large a part of who I’m, and my daughters. My daughters are big, big contributors to issues in my life, and so they open my eyes to issues, and I simply did an interview with … Do the Chicken Nugget Girl?

The Chicken Shop Date lady, sure.

(Laughs.) Yes, Amelia [Dimoldenberg]. I did an interview together with her, and my daughter was like, “Oh my gosh! You are kidding!” I used to be like, “Whoa.” Amelia is fast. She’s sensible. I do know so much about the way in which during which that era thinks, regardless that they don’t let me in on all of it, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a special lens. I feel that’s what Halina Reijn was involved in, too. When she directed [the Gen Z satire] Bodies Bodies Bodies, abruptly she was round so many of those younger individuals who have been educating her, which is why younger folks educating an older individual is in Babygirl. You generally is a mentor, and you’ll be mentored by youthful folks.

Sunday lately walked in her first trend present at 16, for Miu Miu. What was that like for you as a mother?

That’s all pushed by her. Me going, “Oh no, I don’t assume so.” But Miuccia [Prada] simply cherished her and was like, “No, I need her.” And Miuccia is so highly effective as a girl. So that was a very good match. I sat with Miuccia lately in Italy and stated, “My gosh, I’ve recognized you since I used to be about 23.” I’ve been on this business for some time.

That’s why this Sherry Lansing Award — Sherry Lansing is just about the primary feminine government I met after I got here to America. She was proper there at Paramount, and he or she was so highly effective. She was a nurturer. She gave me a lot consideration and house and perception. She goes, “You’re going to have an unbelievable profession.” “Really? You assume? But I’m Australian.” It’s very intimidating once you come to America from Australia. You go, “Oh my gosh, that is huge time.” But she was like, “Yes, I do know it.” I didn’t imagine her. So now I’ll rise up there and say, “I imagine you now, Sherry.”

This story appeared within the Dec. 4 situation of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click right here to subscribe.