Nicole Kidman’s newest project won’t see a theatrical release until December 25, butBabygirlhas already begun to turn heads due to the film’s notoriously kinky content. However, Kidman revealed thatBabygirl’s many, many sex scenes were often overwhelming for the star to shoot, leading to incredibly vulnerable moments where Kidman had to pause filmingand felt like she didn’t want to be touched anymore.
In this boundary-breaking erotic thriller fromBodies Bodies Bodiesdirector Halina Rejin, Kidman plays a powerful CEO who strikes up an affair with a young intern portrayed by Harris Dickinson, best known for his roles inThe Iron ClawandA Murder at the End of the World. Their relationship is far from wholesome, though — Kidman’s character finds release from her workaholic lifestyle by allowing herself to be completely dominated in the bedroom. While Kidman is no stranger to racy performances — one of her earlier movies, 1999’sEyes Wide Shut, co-starring then-husband Tom Cruise, famously featured a massive sex scene involving multiple people — she confessed that the intensity ofBabygirlwas sometimes too much for her to handle.PerThe Sun, Kidman explained, “There were times when we were shooting where I was like (…) ‘Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life.'”
But I also was turned on by it. I was also sort of hypnotized.
Despite the grueling nature of her performances,Kidman doesn’t seem to regret the leap of faith she took withBabygirl. The film is directed by a woman — which is an important contrast between Kidman’s first venture into racy roles withEyes Wide Shutdirector Stanley Kubrick. “I don’t think I could have done it, working with a man,” Kidman confessed regarding the erotic scenes inBabygirl. “I actually think the only way I could do this was with her because the two of us would sit and talk. We talked about so many things and still do, that is so secretive and vulnerable — but it’s safe.”
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WhatBabygirlMeans for Nicole Kidman’s Career
A formidable force in the acting industry after over 40 years of making movies, Kidman can certainly afford to take some risks with her career. While the sensuality ofBabygirlisn’t necessarily a new addition to Kidman’s repertoire, the vulnerability required by the film was previously uncharted territory — but it may become Kidman’s new normal. Despite the internal obstacles she experienced during production, Kidman once again referenced the importance of having a woman at the helm, saying, “Being in the hands of Halina [Reijn], I knew she wasn’t going to exploit me. I didn’t feel exploited. I felt very much a part of it.” With so much praise for Rejin’s work and the comfort Kidman felt on-set, it seems likely that she’ll pursue more female directors and filmmakers in future projects — especially if those projects include on-screen intimacy.
As an already established household name, Kidman does have the privilege of being selective with her projects. Given her upcoming slate, it seems she’s already made an effort to surround herself with not just female directors, but actresses as well. Prospective releases for Kidman includeScarpetta—a two-season adaptation of author Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling series, with Liz Sarnoff directing and Jamie Lee Curtis as co-star — and the sequel to beloved romantic fantasyPractical Magic,with both Kidman and Sandra Bullock reprising their original roles.
