Nicole Kidman was far from a “perfect stranger” on the set of Babygirl, according to her co-star Harris Dickinson.
Dickinson, who plays a young intern engaged in a passionate affair with Kidman’s CEO character, praised the Oscar-winning actress as “the most comforting, warm performer to work with” during their intimate scenes.
“She sets the tone on set and makes it easy to be vulnerable and funny because she’s so fearless,” Harris shared in an interview with Variety on Oct. 23. “She’s incredibly brave, and she does things that make you go, ‘What the f–k is that?’ You can’t even imagine it.”
He continued by highlighting Kidman’s playful nature, which made the entire experience more relaxed. “She has this natural sense of playfulness, and when that’s present, everything becomes effortless.”
Dickinson also noted that filming their sex scenes wasn’t overly nerve-wracking, thanks to the guidance of an intimacy coordinator who ensured both actors were comfortable with the boundaries set in advance.
“The intimacy coordinator asks, ‘What are you comfortable with? What does the director envision? How can we respect those boundaries while filming?’” Harris explained. “They manage it delicately without disrupting the scene.”
Kidman, in turn, relied on director Halina Reijn for support throughout the process.
“Given the film’s nature, it was either about being fully vulnerable or protected—and if you chose protection, the connection wouldn’t be real,” Kidman told Variety. “When I met Halina, I just asked for a safe space, and said, ‘Please don’t make me look like a fool.'”
This wasn’t Kidman’s first foray into erotic thrillers, either. In 1999, she starred in Eyes Wide Shut alongside her then-husband Tom Cruise, directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Reflecting on that experience, Kidman told the Los Angeles Times in July, “Being a woman in that equation is different. Stanley had a distinct connection with Tom. They worked closely on his character.”
