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Top 10 Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman broke America in 1990, and the Australian actress has remained one of Hollywood’s leading ladies ever since. An Oscar-winner, humanitarian, mother of four, and former wife of Tom Cruise, Kidman has shown a willingness for risk-taking in a wide range of roles – boasting comedy, musical, drama, action-adventure and arthouse, a one trick pony she most definitely is not...

Her Top 10 Films

Dead Calm (1989)

This breakthrough role was where it all kicked off for Kidman, a then 22-year-old actress who’d starred in a handful of low-budget movies in her native Australia. She received rave reviews for her performance as Rae Ingram, the wife of a naval officer played by Sam Neill. Following the death of their son, the couple go sailing to try and cope with their loss. But things go from bad to worse when they’re held captive by a psychotic madman (Billy Zane), and end up fighting for their lives.

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Far and Away (1992)

Kidman’s breakthrough in America was Days Of Thunder (1990), where she met Tom Cruise. The couple married on Christmas Eve, 1990 and shared the screen again in Far And Away, Ron Howard’s romantic action-adventure about Irish immigrants seeking their fortune in 1890s America. In a scene where Kidman removes a bowl from Tom’s crotch, Howard wanted a big reaction, and so secretly asked Cruise to go commando. The resulting reaction was just what Howard was looking for, and it’s in the film.

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To Die For (1995)

Stretching her dramatic range, Kidman plays fame-hungry weathergirl Suzanne Stone in this black comedy. Determined to land the lead as soon as she read the script, Kidman tracked down director Gus van Sant’s phone number and spent 40 minutes talking him through her thoughts on the role. Two hours later he called her back to tell her she'd got the role, which had previously been offered to Meg Ryan for $5m. Kidman agreed to do it for $2m.

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Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Kidman third (and, so far, last) collaboration with Cruise, it’s also the final work by Stanley Kubrick, as the director died four days after showing the finished film to the couple. It’s set during one sexually charged night when Dr. Bill Harford (Cruise) discovers that his wife (Kidman) once considered having an affair. To make an R rating (between a 15 and 18 in UK terms), some of the graphic sexual content during an orgy scene was blocked by digitally adding people. Cruise filed for divorce in February 2001 and the marriage was dissolved later that year.

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Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Directed by fellow Aussie Baz Luhrmann, this all-sing all-dancing musical is based on the opera, La Traviata, and saw Kidman team up with Ewan McGregor. Filming halted for two weeks after she fractured ribs and injured her knee while rehearsing a dance routine. Kidman was due to star in Panic Room after Moulin Rouge!, but as a result of her injury the part went to Jodie Foster instead. Her role as courtesan Satine earned Kidman an Oscar nod, but she lost out to Halle Berry for Monster’s Ball.

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The Hours (2002)

Kidman finally achieved Oscar glory the following year, for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours. To prepare, Kidman learnt to write with her right hand, read Woolf’s personal letters, and wore a prosthetic nose to complete the look. Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore co-starred, and the plot focuses on three women of different generations whose lives are all affected by Virginia Woolf’s novel, Mrs. Dalloway.

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Dogville (2003)

This Lars von Trier drama was the critics' favourite to win at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, but came away with no prizes. The plot focuses on a woman (Kidman) hiding from mobsters, who arrives at the small town of Dogville and is given refuge in return for physical labour. Narrated by John Hurt, the story is told through nine chapters, with a minimal stage-like structure as the backdrop. This role again demonstrated Kidman’s appetite for unusual and challenging projects.

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Birth (2005)

From Sexy Beast director Jonathan Glazer, Birth is the story of a young widow (Kidman) who becomes convinced that her husband has been reincarnated in the form of a 10-year-old boy. The critically acclaimed drama caused outrage when Kidman appeared to share a bath with the young actor, but the pair actually filmed the scene separately and wore special clothing that made them appear nude. In response to some of the criticism, Kidman said: "It wasn't that I wanted to make a film where I kiss a 10-year-old boy. I wanted to make a film where you understand love."

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Margot at the wedding (2007)

Kidman stars as Margot, a neurotic writer who visits her carefree sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh) just before she marries her fiancé (Jack Black), who Margot far from approves of. Kidman, Black and Jason Leigh moved in together during filming, so that they could perfect their roles as a dysfunctional family. This low-budget tragicomedy from director Noah Baumbach (The Squid And The Whale) had limited release, but was a hit with critics.

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Rabbit Hole (2010)

Kidman turned down a role in Woody Allen’s forthcoming You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger to take the lead in this film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. Set around a couple grieving the loss of their young child, Kidman personally chose Aaron Eckhart to play her husband. Filming took just 28 days and this is the first time Kidman has both acting and producing credits. And her third Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

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Tegan Kniveton