The unlikely role Nicole Kidman called her crowning achievement: “I have to be that”
Nicole Kidman has long taken on roles that many of her contemporaries wouldn’t, unafraid to step into the shoes of characters placed in unusual situations – just look at Birth. Her dedication to boundary-pushing roles, whether she is working with Lars von Trier or Stanley Kubrick, has allowed her to become a cinematic icon, symbolic of versatility and consistency.
It’s actually quite amazing how many successful films and TV shows Kidman has appeared in over the years, and her dedication to working with female filmmakers as much as possible has further singled her out as an important cinematic figure.
It might seem like the bare minimum to make a conscious effort to work with more than just white male directors, but few actors actually seem to do this. Kidman knows it’s the least she can do to help make a change in the industry.
With so many appearances in films that steer away from sterile Hollywood convention, you’d think that Kidman is against, at least creatively, the kind of mainstream fodder that is cheapening the art form. Yet, one of her most cherished roles is actually from one of her most forgettable, uncharacteristic movies – a superhero movie laden with CGI.
It’s not the kind of film that comes to mind when you think of Kidman, but she was delighted to be offered a role in the DC movie Aquaman alongside Jason Momoa. Her joy to be part of the film seemed to stem from a childlike interest in dressing up and simply having fun, because after all, if you were given the chance to morph into the kind of character that simply doesn’t exist in real life – in this case, a mermaid queen – then maybe you’d take it, too.
She also wanted to work with director James Wan, telling Entertainment Weekly, “The reason why I love [Aquaman] is James Wan is an Australian, and I’ve followed his career since he started. He’s a really good friend of mine, and he offered to let me play Queen Atlanna.”
Kidman continued, “As soon as he said I could wear mother-of-pearl and be a mermaid warrior, I said I’m done. Please. If there is one thing I have to do in my life, I have to be that. Because you’ve got to have some fun.”
This is clearly the mindset she takes into her more ridiculous and fun roles, like the villain in Paddington or the old punk in How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and while Kidman has played plenty of troubled women, Aquaman allowed her to simply let loose, and it probably offered some respite from playing Celeste, a victim of domestic abuse, in Big Little Lies, which was filming at the same time.
Still, Aquaman is far from the greatest thing Kidman has ever starred in, and it’s always a little disappointing to see an actor as impressive as her stoop to the realm of superhero slop. It did manage to gross over $1billion, though, so I guess she got a good cheque out of it, at least.
