Nicole Kidman Reveals Her Top 5 Career-Defining Films
The acclaimed actress opens up about her most meaningful performances, from grief-stricken dramas to supernatural thrillers that shaped her legendary career.
With nearly 100 films under her belt, Nicole Kidman has built one of Hollywood's most diverse filmographies. From blockbuster spectacles like Aquaman to mystical romances such as Practical Magic, the Australian-born star continues pushing boundaries. Her latest venture, 2024's Babygirl, saw her reunite with provocative storytelling reminiscent of 1999's Eyes Wide Shut.
In Babygirl, Kidman delivered a fearless performance as a CEO entangled in an affair with a younger colleague, played by Harris Dickinson. The role demanded what she called "radical honesty" as she explored complex themes of female desire and power dynamics. Every scene carried symbolic weight, from intimate moments to psychological breakdowns in decaying settings.
The Golden Trio That Changed Everything
When asked by The Film Experience about her most cherished work, Kidman's response came with genuine surprise. "Wow," she laughed before revealing her picks. "Probably Moulin Rouge! and The Others and The Hours. And it's so weird because I did all of them back to back."
This remarkable three-film streak in the early 2000s catapulted her into cinema's upper echelon. The consecutive releases showcased her range across musical romance, supernatural horror, and biographical drama. Each project demanded different skills yet shared her commitment to examining human complexity.
Confronting Loss Through Art
Beyond that career-defining period, Kidman highlighted another deeply personal choice. "Probably Rabbit Hole because that says so much about grief," she explained. The 2010 drama followed parents Becca and Howie Corbett navigating their son's accidental death through conflicting coping strategies.
Her performance captured raw anguish with devastating precision. "That seems to be something that I've circled around; I try to circle around subjects and for some reason, loss and grief, I circle around it in many different forms," she reflected on this recurring theme.
Experimental Cinema and Bold Choices
For her final selection, Kidman chose a more controversial entry. "I also loved working with Jonathan Glazer in Birth. Whether the film actually works as a whole, I don't know, but I think there are some really great moments in that film, and I think he's got greatness in him."
Birth presented an unsettling premise: a widow encounters a ten-year-old boy claiming to be her deceased husband's reincarnation. The film divided critics but demonstrated Kidman's willingness to tackle unconventional material that challenges audiences' comfort zones.