A varied career like Nicole Kidman’s should leave no room for regrets. And yet there is one role she has missed out on – and that was by her own choice.
Nicole Kidman is a world star and the actress’s filmography is full of highlights. However, 41 years ago, there was one role that was unimaginable for a then-teenage Nicole Kidman (Babygirl). From today’s perspective, the actress regrets her decision.
Nicole Kidman turned down Jane Campion’s role offer
As Indiewire reported as recently as November of last year, this role offer came from none other than director Jane Campion (The Piano). Kidman was to work with her in later projects such as Portrait of a Lady or the crime series Top of the Lake.
But for a then 17-year-old Nicole Kidman, the time for a creative collaboration with the director did not yet seem to have come.
Campion, who was still a film student herself at the time, wanted to hire Nicole Kidman for A Girl’s Own Story. The 27-minute film focuses on the lives of young women and their first sexual experiences. However, the actress, who was currently involved in a school play at the time, turned down the offer.
41 years later, Nicole Kidman regretted her decision
A decision she would regret for decades. This is how a grown-up Nicole Kidman has since commented on it:
Director Jane Campion came and sat at the back of the small theater and then cast me in one of her student films. But I didn’t do it – I didn’t want to wear a shower cap in the movie and not look pretty. It’s a big omission. What an omission!
When Kidman received the AFI Live Achievement Award, she gave special thanks to the filmmakers who had allowed her to play unconventional women.
The actress particularly highlighted Jane Campion and referred to her as a friend. Kidman can currently be seen in the erotic drama Babygirl.
