Top 10 Coolest Things About Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has built one of the most versatile screen careers around, moving from Australian breakthrough roles to global stardom and then into producing prestige television while continuing to take on ambitious films. Below are ten project-focused highlights that show how she’s shaped stories, collaborated with major directors, and earned top industry honors across genres.

‘The Hours’ (2002) – an Oscar-winning turn as Virginia Woolf

Kidman portrays writer Virginia Woolf, anchoring a triptych narrative adapted from Michael Cunningham’s novel. The performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with major wins across critics’ circles and international academies. Makeup and physical transformation were central to the role’s design, supporting the film’s exploration of creativity and mental health. She worked alongside Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore, with Stephen Daldry directing and David Hare scripting.

‘Big Little Lies’ (2017–2019) – star-powered limited series that reshaped prestige TV

Kidman served as both lead actor and executive producer, adapting Liane Moriarty’s novel for HBO. The series won Outstanding Limited Series and earned her Outstanding Lead Actress at the Primetime Emmys, with additional Golden Globe recognition. It assembled an A-list ensemble and a female-driven creative team, including Reese Witherspoon as co-lead and executive producer. Jean-Marc Vallée and later Andrea Arnold directed, with the show sparking a wave of literary thrillers on television.

‘Moulin Rouge!’ (2001) – a modern movie musical milestone

As Satine, Kidman performed extensive vocals and choreography under Baz Luhrmann’s maximalist direction. The film revitalized the movie musical at the box office and in awards seasons, collecting multiple nominations and wins across major ceremonies. Its pop-mashup soundtrack became a cultural fixture, with standout duets and solos recorded specifically for the production. The role earned Kidman career-defining accolades and cemented a long-running collaboration with an Australian creative team.

‘Eyes Wide Shut’ (1999) – a rare collaboration with Stanley Kubrick

Kidman co-stars with Tom Cruise in Kubrick’s final feature, adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s novella. The production is known for its unusually long shoot and meticulously controlled sets. Her performance weaves into the film’s study of intimacy, secrecy, and power, with dialogue scenes that were heavily rehearsed and precisely staged. The release became a major cinema event due to Kubrick’s legacy and the film’s layered thematic content.

‘The Others’ (2001) – gothic suspense that became an international hit

Kidman leads an English-language Spanish co-production written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar. The film was a global box-office success and achieved a rare sweep at Spain’s Goya Awards, including Best Film. Its restrained visual style, sound design, and twist-driven narrative emphasized performance over spectacle. Kidman’s role as a protective mother in an isolated manor remains a touchpoint for elevated supernatural drama.

‘To Die For’ (1995) – dark satire that redefined her screen persona

Working with director Gus Van Sant and writer Buck Henry, Kidman plays an ambitious small-town TV personality. The performance won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy and drew widespread critical praise. The film’s mock-documentary elements and true-crime inflections showcased her precision with tone. It also marked an early collaboration with emerging talents Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck.

‘Being the Ricardos’ (2021) – portraying Lucille Ball with behind-the-scenes rigor

In Aaron Sorkin’s production, Kidman depicts Lucille Ball across a compressed timeline focused on a turbulent production week. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won a Golden Globe for the performance. The film integrates table reads, network negotiations, and personal revelations to examine how a classic sitcom was made. Vocal preparation, dialect work, and physicality were central to recreating both the performer and the producer sides of Ball.

‘The Undoing’ (2020) – a high-gloss thriller anchored by performance and producing

Kidman stars and executive produces this HBO limited series created by David E. Kelley and directed by Susanne Bier. The show delivered strong week-over-week audience growth and became a major streaming draw. Its structure blends legal drama with psychological suspense, built around a therapist navigating a murder investigation. The production reunited Kidman and Kelley after their earlier collaboration on another literary adaptation.

‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ (2021–2024) – expanding her footprint as a producer-star

Based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, the series features Kidman as the enigmatic leader of a wellness retreat. She also executive produces, helping assemble a large ensemble cast and multi-location shoot. The show broadened her streaming presence and was extended with additional episodes and a refreshed cast lineup. Its production model illustrates her ongoing role in sourcing material and shepherding book-to-screen adaptations.

‘Bombshell’ (2019) – ensemble journalism drama grounded in real-world events

Kidman portrays broadcast journalist Gretchen Carlson in a dramatization of systemic workplace misconduct. The film received multiple major award nominations, with wins for its transformative makeup and hairstyling. Kidman’s role forms one pillar of an ensemble narrative alongside Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie. Interviews, newsroom staging, and recreated broadcasts were used to map how allegations moved from private complaints to public accountability.

Share your favorite Nicole Kidman role in the comments and tell us which performance you think showcased her range the best!