Nicole Kidman Opens Up About Blockbuster Film Career: ‘It’s Not About the Check’
Nicole Kidman recently sat down with L’Officiel magazine to talk about her upcoming Netflix 6-episode murder mystery series The Perfect Couple, her varied film and TV credits, and her philanthropy.
“The thing people don’t understand is, it’s not about the check. A lot of the mainstream big blockbusters that I do are hopefully different,” the actress said about jumping into roles that some people may say are “below” an actress of her experience and fame.
When director James Wan approached Kidman about the 2018 film Aquaman, Kidman thought it was for a horror film. Wan directed the first Saw film in 2004, Insidious in 2010, and The Conjuring in 2013.
Horror is one of Kidman’s favorite genres, and while she’s been in psychological thrillers (The Others in 2001 and Stoker in 2013), she wants to do full-on horror: “I’ve not done classic horror yet. Hardcore horror. I’m putting it out there, because I watch hardcore horror. I’m a fan of Ti West!”
Wan invited Kidman to play Queen Atlanna, Aquaman’s mother. She reprised the role in the 2023 sequel. The big-budget popcorn flicks received mixed reviews from critics but have collectively grossed nearly $2 billion worldwide.
In recent years, the Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning actress has been alternating films with high-profile TV series like Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and the upcoming The Perfect Couple. “I’ve fallen in love with the long format because I like the building of character,” she said.
“I like that they’re limited. You’re not committing a huge amount of time. It’s still got a cinematic feel to it. It’s more like a slow burn than a film, where you only have two hours to tell your story and build a character,” Kidman continued.
Aside from her work in film and TV, Kidman is a passionate philanthropist. She has been a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador since 2006 and has traveled to many countries to raise funds for programs to end violence against women and amplify the voices of survivors.
However, Kidman does not want to be rewarded or awarded for this type of work: “That feels deeply uncomfortable. There are different times when you have to show up because it means more people will donate or there’ll be more light put on that subject matter. It can’t be self-serving.”
“When you do things philanthropically, or for a good reason, you don’t expect anything in return. Our duty and purpose in the world is to help others, not to get a pat on the back for it. I really feel strongly about that.”
