The strangest director Nicole Kidman has ever worked with: “That’s sort of weird”
The greatest actors are those who can adapt to different genres with ease, metamorphosing and sometimes becoming completely unrecognisable in the process. For Nicole Kidman, transforming into a range of characters seems to come easily, with her career spanning roles as a cabaret star to a punk and a villainous taxidermist.
Kidman started out as an actor in various Australian movies before moving over to Hollywood, becoming known for her role as Dr Chase Meridian in Batman Forever. From there, she appeared in many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, like To Die For and Practical Magic, before landing a part in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, which exposed her to an even wider audience.
This helped her become one of the most popular actors of the 2000s, and Kidman could subsequently be found in a range of successful movies, but also more controversial and arthouse titles – a testament to her diversity as an actor. From Moulin Rouge! to Birth, Kidman’s filmography grew substantially during this period, which was marked by an array of genres and directors.
In 2003, she found herself working with Lars von Trier, who directed her in Dogville. By this point, she had worked with a range of acclaimed filmmakers, but none as “weird” as von Trier. She once admitted that he was the strangest director she has ever worked with, and judging by von Trier’s complicated history, we’re not surprised.
The filmmaker is known for his controversial movies, like the erotic Nymphomaniac movies, and shocking titles like The House That Jack Built, Antichrist, and The Idiots. His films are typically incredibly graphic in terms of both violence and sexuality, making him one of the most highly debated modern filmmakers. Some people see him as a cinematic genius, while other people believe him to be nothing more than a director who wields his position of power to create bizarre and offensive imagery.
Von Trier has also experienced his fair share of controversies, such as when he made a strange comment about understanding Hitler, something he seemed to be making an odd joke about. He has been accused of sexual harassment and psychological abuse, furthering his reputation as one of cinema’s most contentious figures.
When Kidman worked with him back in the early 2000s, she found some of his behaviour incredibly peculiar. Talking to Variety, Kidman admitted that a lot of things people tend to find “strange,” she doesn’t. “I’m strange,” the actor said. Yet, even she was a little confused when she met von Trier. “I was sitting there, and Lars was literally at the window of the hotel, outside. And then he’s climbing in. That’s sort of weird. And then driving around in his camper van, because he doesn’t fly. Or hiking in the forest in the dead of winter in the snow, and that’s rehearsal.”
Dogville ended up receiving mixed reviews from critics, although Kidman’s performance was highly praised. She was nominated for many accolades from smaller festivals and associations, although it seemed as though the Academy Awards were not keen to acknowledge Kidman’s work in such a shocking film. Still, the movie was proof of Kidman’s willingness to appear in unconventional arthouse films, something she has done many times since.
