The actor who adored working with Stanley Kubrick: “One of the most nurturing places I’ve been”
Stanley Kubrick was famously not always an easy person to work with, with the director having forged a reputation based on his incisive vision and unrelenting quest to reach it. Whether it be the production of The Shining or Barry Lyndon, Kubrick never failed to create a challenging work environment for his actors, often pushing them to new limits and to embody the psychological turmoil of their characters.
From the harrowing experiences of Shelley Duvall and the endless taunting she received from the director, or the conflict that arose with Jack Nicholson when asked to perform endless variations of the same take, Kubrick came to be known for his particularly demanding work ethic that very nearly drained the life out of his collaborators, no matter how experienced or talented they were. But while many have voiced their frustrations over his forensic approach, one actor continually expressed deep love and admiration for the director despite starring in one of his most strained productions.
Nicole Kidman is not known for being risk-averse. Through her sprawling body of constantly evolving work, the actor has become an emblem of independent cinema. With an aura of candid elegance off-screen, Kidman is nothing short of electric on screen, with breathtakingly vulnerable and bold performances that elevate her craft to a new stratosphere of greatness.
Whether it be her recently controversial film Babygirl, her captivating portrait of grief and those who are unable to process it in Birth or the devastating journey of Celeste in Big Little Lies, Kidman has never shied away from a challenge. One of her biggest yet most surprising battles came in 1999 through her fabled collaboration with Kubrick.
Eyes Wide Shut follows Doctor Bill Hartford in the aftermath of discovering that his wife has sexual fantasies about other men, embarking on a strange sexual odyssey that leads him to discover a strange secret society. Starring alongside Tom Cruise, Kidman plays Alice Hartford, becoming notorious for one particular scene in which the couple have an extensive all-night discussion about their sex life and her desires that extend outside of their marriage.
However, while the shoot became known for its complications, with the actors working on the film for over a year, Kidman has only the best things to say about her time with Kubrick, saying, “Working with Stanley [Kubrick], that seemed like it was going to be incredibly intimidating and frightening, and it was probably one of the most nurturing places I’ve been. That’s why I have such affection for him, because we had a similar mindset, just a way of approaching life. He was mischievous, talk about playful. Stanley was really playful with us. Usually, you’re racing against the clock, but Stanley wouldn’t allow time to dictate. And that’s pretty fabulous.”
The actor expanded on this by reflecting on the notorious length of the shoot, concluding, “And when I look back, I don’t think I minded how long it took, because if you’re fighting against a situation, it’s going to be torturous. The acceptance of it allows it to be, and then you can enjoy it. And we’re here to have a good life. You can choose the torture of it, or you can accept what it is and take it for what it is. That’s very much my father. I don’t always do it, but I try.”
