The Oscar-nominated movie predicted to be “career suicide” for Nicole Kidman
After getting her start in a few small-scale Australian movies, Nicole Kidman would find fame in Hollywood several years later, appearing in movies like Days of Thunder, Far and Away, and My Life. She then secured a role in Batman Forever, directed by Joel Schumacher, which garnered considerable commercial success. From there, Kidman has consistently moved between big-budget productions and cheaper indie movies.
That’s the brilliance of Nicole Kidman. Whether she’s offered a role in a Hollywood blockbuster or an indie film by a relatively unknown filmmaker, her decision is driven by how intrigued she is by the story and character—not by the potential millions she could earn.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Kidman appeared in a range of movies, such as Gus Van Sant’s dark comedy To Die For, following it with a part in Jane Campion’s Portrait of a Lady. Establishing herself as a star that cult directors wanted to work with, Kidman soon found herself working with one of the all-time greats: Stanley Kubrick.
She appeared in his final film, Eyes Wide Shut, alongside her then-husband Tom Cruise. The film was well-received, and Kidman’s performance was incredibly powerful, fitting right into the mysterious and seductive world that Eyes Wide Shut exists within. Since then, she has consistently taken risks, knowing that she has what it takes to bring an astoundingly good performance to any script.
In 2004, she appeared in Jonathan Glazer’s Birth, a controversial movie that stirred up criticism due to a scene where Kidman seemed to be bathing naked in a bath with a child. The film’s plot revolves around her character’s belief that a young child she meets is actually her husband reincarnated. Kidman defended the decision, claiming they were both wearing nude clothing while filming. Evidently, working with controversial scripts and taboo themes won’t stop Kidman from accepting a part – she works in the name of art.
Just a few years before, Kidman had made the decision to appear in the musical romance Moulin Rouge!, directed by Baz Luhrmann. She starred opposite Ewan McGregor, playing the leading cabaret performer in Paris’ Moulin Rouge, with whom his character falls in love. However, according to Luhrmann, the fact that Kidman accepted the part was bold.
Talking to Vogue, the filmmaker explained: “There are a lot of roles she could have pursued that may have been more obvious and less fearful. But Nicole’s choices are always surprising. After all, agreeing to do Moulin Rouge! at the time was pretty much considered career suicide.”
The film performed well, earning both significant commercial and critical success and securing Kidman an Oscar nomination. It has even been reenacted by The Muppets and transformed into a stage show – a testament to its enduring popularity. Clearly, Kidman’s decision to take risks has often paid off, making her one of the most successful actors of her generation.
“I suppose I kind of have this very spontaneous, nonstrategic [side], which is why I’ve had such a winding career. Even at my height, I wasn’t looking to maintain that. I was always looking for what I feel now—where do I want to go?” she told Vogue. It seems as though she’s got the right idea.
