Has Nicole Kidman really been in “some of the most divisive films there have ever been”?
Nicole Kidman has always been a risk-taker. The actor operates on a philosophy of limitless boundaries as she bends herself to the vision of each new director she works with. Naturally, this has occasionally lent itself to controversy and art that makes people uncomfortable, whether it be the bathtub scene in Birth, the entirety of The Killing of a Sacred Deer, or her vulnerability in Babygirl.
Safe art doesn’t interest Kidman, with the actor standing out amongst her peers for making choices that most would run away from, leaning into the danger of her craft by putting herself on the line and embracing the unknown.
As a result, the actor has accumulated a filmography that boasts some of the most divisive directors in the business, whether it be the cruel stories of Lars von Trier, chameleon-esque versatility of Jonathan Glazer and Stanley Kubrick, or complex interiority of Sofia Coppola and Jane Campion.
However, Kidman has also starred in her fair share of commercial projects that maybe didn’t pan out in the way they were expected to, whether it be The Prom, The Goldfinch or The Stepford Wives. Netflix original projects have become a trap that lures many great actors, no doubt as a result of the pay cheque and safety of working on something that is guaranteed to be seen. But when working with so many independent directors on low-budget projects, it is almost necessary to occasionally balance out this risk with films that you know will pay the bills.
But while these films might stand out in her body of work, she still maintains the same philosophy of risk-taking in each one, whether it be the requirement to learn Fosse dancing while working with Ryan Murphy or the satirical undercurrent to her portrayal of a robotic, even if it slightly misses the mark. Each one requires her to push herself and adapt to new challenges, something that she could easily avoid if she wanted to.
When discussing her work, Kidman said, “I’ve been in probably some of the most divisive films there have been. That’s a very powerful piece of filmmaking that people have strong ideas about. I love that. I’m so glad to be in those films, and I want to support the filmmakers that make them. I don’t want to be scared or shy or worried. The idea of not having limitations or boundaries is important to me. And maybe that’s not the healthiest thing, but I’m not here to be healthy. I don’t approach things from that safe place. I’m not interested in it.”
There is no doubt that Kidman has the most divisive filmography of any modern performer, with few coming close to the range within her work and the artistic empire she has cultivated for herself after years in the business. Each role touches on a new aspect of the human condition and the infinite mysteries that lie under the surface of everyday life, marking her as one of the true greats in her undaunted approach to tapping into lesser-seen stories and perspectives.
