Nicole Kidman has opened up about the challenges of filming intimate scenes in her new movie, Babygirl, admitting that at one point, she had to pause filming because she “didn’t want to orgasm anymore.”
What inspired the erotic movie
The 57-year-old actress, who stars alongside Harris Dickinson in the A24 thriller, explained on The Graham Norton Show that while the role pushed her out of her comfort zone, she was eager to take on something bold and new.
In the steamy thriller, Kidman portrays a high-powered businesswoman who jeopardizes both her career and family life by embarking on a fiery affair with her much younger intern, played by Harris Dickinson, 28, known from Triangle of Sadness (2022).
Written, directed, and produced by Halina Reijn, the film was inspired by a story she heard about a woman who had never experienced an orgasm throughout her 25-year marriage.
Reijn explained that her deep interest in exploring women’s relationships with their bodies was a key driving force behind the creation of the sexy, dark and unpredictable movie.
In the movie, Kidman delivers an exceptional performance, seamlessly transitioning from outrage to fear, and then to a deeply passionate, lustful consent.
“I love the script, and I’m always looking to push beyond my comfort zone,” Kidman said. “This role was something I had never explored before, and I’m always on a quest as an actor to discover new areas of myself.
Despite the role’s challenges, Kidman emphasized the importance of balancing her personal and professional life. The personal aspect also hit very close to home for Nicole Kidman after the film had been completed.
When she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in 2024, her personal life took a heartbreaking turn. Just as she arrived in Venice and was heading to the closing ceremony, she was informed that her mother had passed away. Kidman had to leave Italy immediately and was unable to accept the award in person. Instead, director Halina Reijn accepted the award on her behalf.
Had to stop the scene
When it comes to the very intimate scenes in Babygirl, the 57-year-old Oscar winner admitted that it sometimes became too much to handle. Playing out those scenes, where she fakes orgasms with Dickinson and Antonio Banderas, who plays her husband in the film, turned out to be a bigger challenge than she initially expected.
She noted that while filming the erotic scenes, there was a level of trust and vulnerability with her co-stars, but also moments of frustration. At one point, she said she had to stop the scene, feeling overwhelmed and needing a break.
“There was a lot of sharing, trust, and then frustration,” she admitted.
“There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,’” Kidman said,per the Sun, and added:
“It was like, ‘Don’t touch me.’ At times, I’d think, ‘I don’t care if I’m never touched again in my life!’ I was just over it.”
Filming Babygirl was an emotionally and physically taxing experience for the actress, who added, “It left me ragged.” Despite the difficulties, her performance has already garnered critical acclaim, and she received a seven-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, where she won Best Actress.
Box office success
The film was a hit, both critically and at the box office, earning over $60 million on a $20 million budget. It was even named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review, with Kidman picking up another Best Actress award.
Babygirl has definitely gotten people talking. With its bold take on intimacy and personal boundaries, it’s sparked a lot of debate.
Nicole Kidman’s performance and the film’s exploration of women’s relationships with their bodies have left viewers questioning where art ends and real vulnerability begins. From the raw scenes to the deeper themes of consent and desire, this movie is one that’s going to be discussed long after it’s over.
Have you seen Babygirl? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!