Nicole Kidman's Extreme Method Acting for Casino Audition Backfired
The Oscar winner transformed herself completely for a Martin Scorsese audition, even testing her character on strangers in public, but lost the coveted role to Sharon Stone.
Nicole Kidman has built her reputation on fearless performances, from Stanley Kubrick's psychological thriller Eyes Wide Shut to family-friendly hits like Paddington. Her Hollywood success didn't come easy – it's the product of relentless hard work and an almost obsessive commitment to her craft.
The Australian actress made her mark in Hollywood after starring opposite Tom Cruise in the 1990 action flick Days of Thunder. This breakthrough led to more opportunities, including another collaboration with Cruise (who became her husband) in Far and Away. By the mid-90s, she was gaining serious recognition with roles in Batman Forever and Gus Van Sant's dark comedy To Die For.
Going Undercover for Scorsese
But there was one 1995 film Kidman desperately wanted to be part of – Martin Scorsese's Casino. Her preparation for this audition went far beyond memorizing lines. She completely transformed herself into the character and took her method acting to the streets.
"I remember dressing up to audition for Casino with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. I dressed up completely, so you couldn't recognize me, and I walked down the street and men were whistling and stuff like that," Kidman revealed in an interview with Backstage.
The actress didn't stop there. She continued her character research by visiting stores while in costume, studying how people responded to her transformed appearance. "I just pretended I was that woman. I was so far from that woman, but I had this low-cut shirt, the shortest [skirt]. And to do the research to build up for it, I would go into stores dressed like that. I couldn't believe the way people reacted."
The Role That Got Away
Despite her intensive preparation, Kidman's audition didn't land her the part of Ginger McKenna. "I didn't get it—I was way too young—but I went in there and Martin didn't know who I was. De Niro didn't know who I was," she admitted. The role ultimately went to Sharon Stone, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance.
Kidman's extreme dedication to auditions stems from lessons learned early in her career. "I have that terrible thing that once I'm in it, I pretty much will try and do anything. It's my commitment to the art, and I don't have strong boundaries because I didn't learn them at 14. I just learned full and utter commitment," she explained.
Still Hoping for a Scorsese Collaboration
Decades later, Kidman has never worked with the legendary director, though she's expressed interest in collaborating under the right circumstances. She's noted that Scorsese's films typically center around male characters, with women playing supporting roles.
"I've always said I want to work with Scorsese, if he does a film with women," Kidman told Vanity Fair. For now, she seems more focused on projects with female filmmakers, though the door remains open for a future Scorsese collaboration.