Nicole Kidman Reveals How She ‘Freed’ Herself and Found Her Creative Passion
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JULY 2, 2017 SUNDAY’S BEST ENTERTAINMENT LIFTOUT SNAPSHOT 2 From accountant to country singing success DATE WITH KATE 3 Travel author works on her fear of fl ying MUSIC 5 David Bridie keeps his SYDNEY INSIDE OUT Chocolate Cake fresh BOOKS 12 Characters search for their author PAGE 6 ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Nicole Kidman reveals how she ‘freed’ herself and found her creative passion L STAGE 5 FASHION 9 MOVIES 10 TODD McKENNEY PURPLE REIGN JOEL EDGERTON Getting nasty, by Lilac shapes up as Facing the end Hook or by crook the colour of spring of the world 1HERSA1 C001 JULY 2, 2017 s 06 COVER No slowing down for beguiling Nicole 50 (on June 20), little wonder there’s a sense of of the Sacred Deer just three weeks earlier, also co- At 50, the actor wants to keep gratitude in her soft voice. ‘‘I’m blown away,’’ she says. starring Farrell, and acknowledges that helped her get taking risks with the abandon ‘‘For all this confluence of events and success to be through an awkward scene in which Miss Martha happening in the year that I turn 50, that feels really R gives the unconscious naked soldier a sponge bath. powerful and makes me unbelievably thankful.’’ ‘‘I did have to keep saying ‘Colin, lie still?’ while I of a 21-year-old, she tells The Beguiled is based on the 1966 novel by spent hours washing his hands and body,’’ she JENNY COONEY CARRILLO. Thomas Cullinan and was previously adapted for film giggles. ‘‘But we were fortunate to have just worked in 1971 by director Don Siegel, starring Clint ‘My husband together, so it felt like being in a repertory film with an Eastwood. The story unfolds during the US Civil War reminds me actor I really trusted.’’ t’s her first interview of the day and Nicole when the sheltered young women at a girls’ Christian The Sydney-raised Kidman seems to have no plans Kidman is already on her second cappuccino, boarding school in the country’s south take in an I’m not a to abandon her track record of taking on unexpected strong with extra foam. She looks stunning, as injured enemy soldier (played by Colin Farrell). As they people- and complex roles in film, theatre and television. She usual, in a silky, cream dress dotted with flowers provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is pleaser accepts she is being rewarded for following her heart. I but complains she’s exhausted. In a sunny hotel overrun with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries. because I say ‘‘I always knew it was going to be the journey,’’ she suite in Beverly Hills, she’s here to chat about her new Kidman was eager to give herself over to director what I think says. ‘‘When I was younger, I would try to fit into a drama, The Beguiled, but it’s been a whirlwind Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) when the filmmaker and I don’t formula, but that never worked for me. I was being 24-hour trip to attend the film’s premiere before approached her with a script. ‘‘Sofia has her own choose roles advised to do big American movies, and as soon as rushing back to her Nashville home and family later distinct cinematic style and she knows exactly what I freed myself artistically to follow filmmakers and in the day. she wants,’’ she says. ‘‘She never raises her voice that are storytellers, I found my passion.’’ ‘‘I need my coffee,’’ she grins as she picks up the beyond a quiet whisper but everyone does everything going to She smiles when asked how she’s been able to second of two cups on saucers on a coffee table in she wants, and I’d call that feminine power right there!’’ please, and resist industry pressure to stay on the road less front of her. ‘‘But I’ll put up with being tired if I can get The Oscar winner was excited that Coppola that’s just the travelled. ‘‘Emotionally, I still feel so open and curious home faster; I can’t bear to be away from my family.’’ became only the second woman to win Cannes’ best way I was and want to always be jumping off the cliff with the Kidman is firing on all cylinders – content in her director award but adds: ‘‘It isn’t right that so few raised.’ abandonment of a 21-year-old,’’ Kidman says. ‘‘I’ve 11-year-marriage to Aussie musician Keith Urban and women directors are working, are nominated and are fallen off that cliff a few times. But my husband as devoted mother of their two girls, Sunday, 8, and being acknowledged. It’s really sort of shocking, Nicole reminds me I’m not a people-pleaser because I say Faith, 6 – and also hitting new peaks in her career at actually, so I want to support them all any way I can.’’ Kidman what I think and I don’t choose roles that are going to a time when many great actresses are ‘‘aged out’’. Kidman plays uptight headmistress Miss Martha in please, and that’s just the way I was raised – to stand She started the year with an Oscar nomination for the the thriller filmed at the historical Madewood Plantation up for what you believe and not fit in.’’ Aussie film Lion, entered the must-see TV world in the House in Louisiana and the cast includes Kirsten Dunst She uses the word ‘‘passion’’ a lot during our series Big Little Lies then found herself at the Cannes as a smitten teacher and Elle Fanning as a precocious conversation, particularly when focus shifts to her festival unexpectedly promoting four projects: The student. ‘‘Sofia described it to me as being like a family. ‘‘I was at the CMT [Country Music Television] Beguiled, The Killing of the Sacred Deer, Topofthe fairytale with the women living in harmony, and then awards recently and the kids were home watching on Lake: China Girl and How to Talk to Girls at Parties. this one man who arrives and disturbs it all,’’ she says. TV when Keith won four of them,’’ she says. ‘‘The next And with it all occurring around the time she turned Kidman had wrapped filming the drama The Killing day my daughter Sunny said, ‘You and Daddy kiss all 1HERSA1 C006 JULY 2, 2017 STORY 07 s Clockwise from main: Nicole Kidman is thankful to still be hitting new peaks in her career; as Miss Martha in The Beguiled; with Alexander Skarsgard in Big Little Lies; with Elle Fanning, Sofia Coppola and Kirsten Dunst in Cannes; with Keith Urban. Photos: Getty Images, AP the time!’ But I think it’s a fantastic thing for your daughter to say to you! I’m deeply passionate about being with my husband and raising my children and THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT NICOLE KIDMAN I’m glad she knows it.’’ ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Kidman is also impassioned about her style, never shying away from bold choices, whether it’s ■ Originally cast as Mrs Smith in Mr & Mrs Smith (2005), sequinned Gucci or feathered Marchesa. ‘‘I think Kidman suggested Brad Pitt as her co-lead. When she had because I was raised by a mother that could sew, and to drop out due to a scheduling issue, Angelina Jolie would make clothes for me and buy the fabric and replaced her and Brangelina was born. make coats with little collars and embroider my dresses, that’s where my love of all that came from,’’ ■ Martin Scorsese approached Kidman to play Katharine she says. ‘‘But she was also the kind of mother who Hepburn in The Aviator (2004) when Cate Blanchett had a would say, ‘Dress up, do your make-up, look good, scheduling conflict, reports suggested. It’s not clear if present well to the world’, because that is just how she she turned him down or dropped out, but filming was was raised – and that established how I think. pushed back and Blanchett returned to the role that won Dressing up and supporting designers or loving the her an Oscar. fabric or the look is artistic for me.’’ With 12 films listed ‘‘in development’’ on her IMDB ■ Kidman has appeared in films with almost every actor page, Kidman makes it clear none of them will come who has played Batman: Michael Keaton (My Life, 1993), Val before her family. ‘‘I’m really at that place with my Kilmer (Batman Forever, 1995), George Clooney (The family where I have to be so careful about what I say Peacemaker, 1997) and Christian Bale (The Portrait of a yes to, because Sunny and Faith right now are so ripe, Lady, 1996). She also appeared in To Die For (1995) with they want to share everything and talk about Casey Affleck, whose brother played Batman. everything and have me there for it all, so I won’t be taken away from them and miss their childhood.’’ ■ Kidman has many close friends she has kept from her Still, Kidman confirms there are plans for a Big Little early years in Australia. Her best friend since she was Lies spin-off in 2018, although author Liane Moriarty three is Annette Overton, the sister of 60 Minutes never wrote a sequel. ‘‘There are a lot of moving parts reporter Peter Overton, whose family lived near the Nicole Kidman alongside Michael Keaton in the 1993 film My Life. but now we’ve got Liane coming up with ideas, and Kidmans when they were growing up.