In this interview, Nicole Kidman acknowledges that from the moment she read the script for ‘Babygirl’, she thought about playing the role. The film, which explores the daring relationship between a powerful woman, Romy - Kidman’s character - and the intern at her company, Samuel - played by Harris Dickinson - will be released at Christmas. ‘Babygirl’ is a project written and directed by Halina Reijn that earned Kidman the award for best actress at the Venice Film Festival. Kidman said that the identity crisis her character faces may be common among women who progress through different stages of their lives. The film opens and closes with an orgasm, highlighting that erotic suspense cinema is here to stay.
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P: Why did you decide to make this film?
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Nicole Kidman: At first, I thought it was a great title. Then, I read the script and was completely absorbed by its story. As an actress, I thought to myself: Oh my God, I hope I can do this because I feel in love with the character. I spoke on the phone with Halina and had a very deep conversation for over an hour and that was it. I was very lucky. People keep telling me how brave I have been to make this film, but no, for me it has been a gift. I spend a lot of time looking for stories to get lost in. It's really exciting that at this stage of my life I am given a sexual woman character. This film is not 'Nine and a Half Weeks', where I sit and watch without participating. What we have achieved is a situation where we are allowed to laugh. Sexuality can be very strange, the idea of sitting down to do a striptease is terrifying to me. I love how Halina manages to show shame, comedy, denial in the same scene. My character has reached a stage in her life where she has all this power, but she is not sure who she is, what she wants, what she desires, even though she seems to have it all. I think we can all identify with her.
Q: Did you enjoy collaborating with Halina?
NK: Since she is a writer and actress, she choreographed the scenes for me, but then I would change them and move freely with Harris and Antonio, shaping it among us to make it real. The way I interpreted it, I could feel Romy, and I think the way Halina wrote the character made it palpable from the first minute. It was a strange journey because it excited me. It was attractive, thrilling, I felt all the things Romy experiences. There was a moment when I had to trust the director completely. When I entered the filming, I knew I was in her hands. I couldn't distrust and gave up control so that what was seen on screen was real and authentic. I knew Halina was an actress, and many things about her sparked my interest. Everyone knows her now. She has become a director with an unstoppable projection.
P: He has worked with 15 female directors, giving them the opportunity to shine alongside him.
NK: What has happened is that many of the women I have worked with have managed to launch their careers with those titles. That is important to me. I like to give the opportunity to new voices, to women who have not had any chance. I want to share the power I have gained in the last decade with the women who lead me. Let's say I am a vessel for female directors, for screenwriters and producers who need an opportunity to work rigorously in their art. I wish I had more energy because I would make many more films if I could, but I am limited by my physical condition and I do what I can. Besides, I have children and a relationship.
"People keep telling me how brave I have been to make this movie, but no, for me it has been a gift. I spend a lot of time looking for stories to get lost in."
— Nicole Kidman, actress
Q: Is the dynamic different with a woman behind the camera?
NK: It depends on each artist. With 'Babygirl,' it was necessary for it to be a woman. Even a different type of woman would not have been suitable for this project. Halina is very daring, mischievous, but also sexually introverted. She says she is very shy. That mix of emotions along with her radical honesty make her unique. She was able to make me forget my own inhibitions because, as an actress, I don't want my limitations to censor me, and she was able to make me forget them. She took away my fears. Together we were able to create the necessary energy for me to get into the role without me shutting down and becoming her puppet. I'm not interested in imitating anyone; I have my own voice, and my experiences are what feed my characters. This allows me to be free. If I close myself off, and I've seen that in some of my performances, it doesn't seem authentic. As an actress, I want to give my all.
Q: Was there room for improvisation?
NK: There was definitely improvisation. The story was evolving and that's the wonder of Halina as a director. I remember calling her at 11 at night, because we are both obsessive, and saying: I have this idea, what do you think. Between the two of us, there was a constant back and forth. I give my best when there is a structure to play with.
Q: How was the experience with Antonio Banderas?
NK: Antonio is very open. Emotionally, he shares what has happened in his life, what he has experienced. It's something he has talked about publicly, which makes him an accessible person. The first time we met, we sat down and talked for three hours. Just the two of us.
This movie brings back erotic suspense cinema from a female perspective.
NK: I like that this movie can be seen from different perspectives. Not everyone hangs the same label on it. It is an erotic film from a female perspective with themes ranging from secrets to pleasure. It talks about power, control, desires, consent, all those things we face. It is a gift with a big bow to open at Christmas.
Q: Have women brought sex back to cinema?
NK: Of course, we brought it ourselves. I have grown up watching this type of movies. They are part of what I learned by going to the cinema. I watched 'Nine and a Half Weeks', I watched Verhoeven's movies, I grew up with them. I have also seen 'Betty Blue', and I was aware of its image. This is an American genre that interested me. It is a genre that attracts me, whether correct or incorrect, I don't care, I like watching these movies. They fascinate me. There is an incredible density in those stories, look at 'Unfaithful' in the way it was directed. It has many layers, but there hasn't been a movie where the woman leads the story. That is what Halina has achieved with 'Babygirl'.
"It is really exciting that at this stage of my life I am given a sexual woman character"
— Nicole Kidman, actress
P: There is no doubt that there is a radical honesty
NK: In some way, this film invites us to discover ourselves. There is a discovery in my character who thought he wanted one thing and then realizes he doesn't want it. It causes surprise to discover what he can or cannot tolerate, what he is willing to do. How much danger he needs in his relationship. The interpretation is constantly changing because Romy changes. Here, the focus is not on the men, which can be frustrating for many people because they surely want to know more about those characters, but Halina is completely committed to the female character and she is the protagonist. She never deviates from Romy, and that is an act of bravery.
P: Halina opens and closes the film with the female orgasm showing ideas about pleasure, celebrating the eroticism of pleasure...
NK: She understands it and dares to push the limits. I love Halina because many of her ideas came up at that moment. The scene where Romy is in a bathrobe watching Harry (Dickinson) dance is sensational. Normally, the woman appears dressed in underwear, but Halina wanted to change that idea. That's what I love about the movie.
Q: Is it difficult to shoot this type of film in front of an unfamiliar team of people?
NK: One of the main things that happen on a film set is that if you don't have the right group of people, the dynamics can change because you don't feel free. Who you choose for your team has a lot of influence on the outcome of the movie. I think the influence that backstage workers have and how they influence the actors is underestimated. If you feel there is negative energy, you can destroy what is happening. We had an amazing group.