Writer-director Halina Reijn was essential to Nicole Kidman’s experience filming “Babygirl,” the actress told Elin Hilderbrand as part of a lengthy interview with the guardian published on Saturday.
“I don’t think I could have done the performance with a male director. She was the one who wrote it. She was the one who understood it,” Kidman said. “A man directing this, it wouldn’t have been the same, because he can’t really be in my body, but she can.”
The actress continued: “We share that shape, so we have the ability to communicate almost telepathically, understanding what our bodies will do. And all bodies are different, but there is a security and almost a secret in sexuality that had to be shared. And so it was a very, very, very different experience for me.”
Reijn further told The Guardian that the pair connected after Kidman saw his film “Intuition” and they had a meeting. “Later, when I started writing the script for ‘Babygirl,’ Nicole was definitely on my mind. I felt like she would be one of the few people who would bring courage to a character like this. He is not a very likable character from the beginning. Romy has many layers and you have to be able to play all those different roles.”
Additionally, Kidman answered questions from her industry friends, co-stars and colleagues, including Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Jackman and Sam Mendes.
Witherspoon asked her “Large Little Lies” co-star if there were any characters she would be interested in revisiting. “The truth is that the character I would love to return to is ‘The Others’. (the 2001 gothic horror directed by Alejandro Amenábar) — Grace,” Kidman responded. “Because I feel like ‘The Others’ is overlooked and I loved that character.”
Jackman noted that Kidman tends to “try anything once,” but asked if there was anything she would hesitate to try. “I’m willing to try anything once, Hugh knows that, I’m up for most things,” she admitted. “So I can’t think of anything. Is that crazy? (Pause) In fact, I wouldn’t do Everest. There you go. I’m never going to do Everest. I just don’t think I’ll make it to the top. Because although I have a risky side, I am careful. And that wouldn’t feel good, would it?
“Babygirl” is now showing in theaters.
