The one actor Nicole Kidman called jaw-droppingly brilliant: “I love him”
There is no one doing it quite like Nicole Kidman, with roles that span from erotic thrillers to psychological horrors and satirical dramas, working with some of the most controversial auteurs in the business on fabled productions that have become something of Hollywood legends.
Whether it be the 15-month shoot of Eyes Wide Shut, the censored bathtub scene from Birth or the milk scene from Babygirl, Kidman is far from being risk averse, with a filmography that is dotted with moments that have defined not only the filmmaking landscape but have seeped their way into popular culture as a result of her sheer iconicity.
After years of challenging roles that have seen her morph into a variety of villains, antiheroes, and tragic heroines, one recent performance was particularly surprising. Kidman starred alongside a beloved British bear and an actor she described as one of her favourites.
The film adaptation of Paddington was a hugely prominent moment in British cinema, with audiences swooning over the interior design of the Brown family home and the genius casting of Ben Wishaw as the mischievous but well-intentioned bear. However, perhaps the most genius element of the series was the delightfully unexpected casting of the villains, played by Kidman and Hugh Grant.
In the first film, Kidman plays a taxidermist called Millicent, who is intent on capturing the bear and stuffing him. Given that it is primarily a kid’s film, it’s a fairly dark plot point that becomes no less terrifying even after several rewatches. However, Grant plays a similarly sinister character in the second Paddington film, taking on the role of a fading actor called Phoenix Buchanan, who steals the bear’s pop-up book to rekindle his own fame.
While both actors are equally brilliant in the series, Grant adds a unique edge, given that his character mocks his real-life persona and plays on the idea of being a washed-up actor. Given that Grant has had a renaissance in recent years, his character felt particularly poignant to the status of his career at that time.
But out of everyone, Kidman had the highest praise for Grant, and when asked who the better Paddington villain was, Kidman said, “Hugh Grant, no question, but I’d like us both to be baddies together. We need to be. But Hugh is jaw-droppingly brilliant, and I love him. Talk about irreverent. Even the other night at the Governors awards, he and Richard Curtis brought the house down, they are unstoppable. Come on, who can do that? That’s just comedic brilliance, the two of them, taking the piss out of each other.”
The actor is known for his dry and self-deprecating sense of humour. He remains somewhat indifferent to the world of fame and has become known for his causal approach to interviews and talk shows, almost completely detached from his star status and prefers to knock himself down instead of being praised by others. As a result, Grant is one of the most naturally entertaining actors from this side of the pond, able to charm with a single smile and entertain without even trying, which is no doubt why Kidman admires his work.
