‘I don’t choose roles that are going to please’
The Oscar winner says she has a stoic yet sensitive approach to life – which is probably why she’s tackling the thorny issue of domestic abuse not just on screen in Big Little Lies but also on the ground, as a UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador.
Nicole Kidman has a laugh that makes you laugh too. She’s charming and warm, and watching her and Keith Urban on the red carpet is a delight as they tease each other and he gazes at his wife as she plays to the cameras. The lithe Australian
Oscar winner is a mother of four: she has two adoptive children, Isabella and Connor, with former hubby Tom Cruise, and two, Sunday Rose (8) and Faith Margaret (6), with her country singer husband.
In the industry, she’s known as a fearless actress who tackles tough subjects, and she does just that in miniseries Big Little Lies, which deals unflinchingly with domestic violence. Nicole plays Celeste Wright, a wealthy stay-at-home mom who has two young kids and whose picture-perfect life masks her volatile marriage and personal losses. There’s a complex psychology to the role which also requires nudity, and her performance is so authentic, it’s almost uncomfortable to watch. She secured the rights to Big Little Lies from Liane Moriarty, the author of the book on which the series is based, and teamed up with Reese Witherspoon to produce the womencentred show that also stars Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz and Alexander Skarsgård.
I met Nicole at a swish Beverly Hills hotel to discuss why this project was important to her and how she’s crafted her life to meet her evolving needs.
ON BIG LITTLE LIES
I have a kindergartener and a second-grader, so I’m right in the thick of it, which is probably why I was drawn to the material [laughs]. But I was drawn to it primarily because it was an Australian author. I read the book overnight – really, really fast – and I thought if this could be made, it would be a great opportunity for five women. I’d promised [Liane] that Reese and I would get it made if she let us option the book. She said, ‘I’ll give you the rights as long as you play Celeste.’ So she cast it. That was two and a half years ago. It was like a whirlwind – that was probably the fastest I’ve ever seen something like this happen.
The role was tough. I’d go home with bruises all over my body. My neck and parts of my body were really damaged because I’d thrown myself into the physical scenes to such a degree. It wasn’t Alex’s fault; it was the way in which the director, Jean-Marc Vallée, shoots. You couldn’t use stunt people; it had to be real. I’d go home and sit in the bath and cry.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
How to Survive the Feast-Or Famine Cycle
It’s empowering to have more than one income stream, but there is a downside: it’s easy to splurge when money is plentiful, but what about the lean months? Three self-starters share their tips for keeping an even keel through good and bad.
Kaley's Comet
Kaley Cuoco was so beguiling as Penny on The Big Bang Theory that she soon became one of the highest paid actors in television. With HBO’s comedic thriller series The Flight Attendant, she entered exciting, slightly sinister new territory – but it proved her range as an actress and cemented her broad-based appeal.
Let the Music Play
My dad died days before the global lockdown. While I was trapped within four walls, music and dancing gave me reason to smile again.
How to Make Your Own Luck
Luck isn’t easy to measure or study, but those who have managed to do it discovered it’s not the work of fate – it’s a skill you can cultivate and improve. So, how do you go about it?
Local Flavour
Stocking up your pantry? These artisanal foods are guaranteed to ignite the senses of home chefs everywhere. Meet the foodies behind two of South Africa’s tastiest brands.
The Comfort of Ritual
Rituals imbue our lives with depth and meaning. And in times of uncertainty, they are even more important because they create a sense of grounding.
Get Your Shine Back!
When the last of the summer heat is over, it’s important to take time to reverse any hair damage caused by sun and sea water.
The Rise of the Personal Shopper
It’s not a new concept, but the number of people who make a living from sourcing goods on behalf of clients is on the rise. We talked to three personal shoppers to find out what it takes.
Back to the Wild
Imagine camping in the Little Karoo… a billion stars above you, the ancient desert beneath, the insistent flapping of your canvas tent in the cold night air. Then banish all the rustic images this conjures up – because Dwyka Tented Lodge will confound all your expectations.
A Good (Mo) Hair Day
"Beauty Mokgwamme had other dreams, but circumstances took her exactly where she was meant to be."
"I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY"
HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE
News FROM THE WORLD OF MEDICINE
Exposure to loud noise, such as an earsplitting concert, is a common cause of hearing loss. But now we may have a way to prevent it.
East Meets West
KALYANI ADUSUMILLI grew up in a minority group in the United States, straddling cultures, learning how to fit in, and later learning how to accept the traditions of her heritage. Today, she is watching her children going through the same process, shifting their cultural identity, as they head toward adulthood in the melting pot of a multicultural society.
Through the Looking Glass
Glen Tullman envisions an upside-down world-one where health care isn't broken and patients get the treatment they need at a cost they can afford. Now all he needs to do is bring transparency to a system that, by design, is anything but clear.
Give Your Team a Better Option
Stock options are a great retention tool-but why should employees have to bear your risk? There's a solution for that.
Don't Choke
Too often, when the big moment arrives, we overthink and underperform. But a cognitive scientist says the key to countering performance anxiety is reframing our physical sensations.
INSPIRATION IS TERRIFYING
Doubt is part of any creator's process, but our revulsion to change and uncertainty runs deep. Research shows that to move past it, we must get comfortable with stepping into the void.
UNFORGETTABLE
EMOTIONS PLAY A BIG ROLE IN WHAT WE REMEMBER
A Loved One Owes You Money Now What?
Your sibling asked you to cover their rent for a couple of months while they were between jobs. Or maybe you loaned a friend a few hundred bucks for a car repair they couldn’t afford.
Big Tech's Great Reckoning
A spate of new laws in Europe and the U.S. Foreshadow What Could Be the End of dominance for Google, Facebook and Amazon