The movie Nicole Kidman will always regret: “I should have done more by myself”
With decades of experience under her belt, Nicole Kidman has just about achieved everything that one could wish for in the tumultuous world of Hollywood. The actor rose through the ranks after performances in films like Days of Thunder and Nightmaster, as well as through her work in the world of Australian television.
But while she quickly elevated to new levels of fame after starring in independent features such as To Die For, The Others and Eyes Wide Shut, there was a period in which she was also famous for her relationship with Tom Cruise, who the actor was married to for 11 years.
While she has forged an iconic career that bears no relevance to her former relationship, there was a time in which she was often associated with the actor, expressing regret over one project with him that strengthened this tie.
Since the beginning of her career, Kidman has only gone from strength to strength, working with some of the most influential auteurs of all time, such as Susanna Bier, Lars von Trier, Park Chan Wook and Jonathan Glazer. Her performances are brave and unflinching, with the actor sharing her philosophy towards her craft and her focus on challenging role, regardless of the risk or vulnerability. This has led her to have a bold and fearless career, with roles in films like Birth, Dogville, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and recently, Babygirl, rattling audiences all over the world.
Her work often takes on subject matter that is seen as shocking or taboo, bringing life and humanity to characters who are dealing with complex interior worlds and often distrust their own experiences/perspective, often touching on themes relating to abuse and grief.
However, while she established herself as a leading light within the independent filmmaking scene and has paved the way for other women in the industry to have their voices heard, she has expressed some regrets over the early progression of her career and her work with her former partner.
When discussing this, Kidman referred to the 1992 film Far and Away, which was her second Hollywood film with ex-husband Tom Cruise. Directed by Ron Howard, the film follows a young couple who escape Ireland to start a new life in Oklahoma. However, Kidman feels as though the decision to star in two films with her husband perhaps wasn’t the right move, saying, “In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have done a movie with him so quickly. I probably should have done more by myself to be seen independently.”
While she might regret this decision, it is perhaps the kind of self-criticism that comes from being an artist and being so committed to your craft, with the film in no way impacting her future success. Both actors have forged very different career paths, and I would argue that Kidman has been far more influential given her daring creative choices and strong advocacy for more diversity in Hollywood, something that is blatantly missing from commercial and blockbuster pictures as a whole.
