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Nicole Kidman, who first caught the fascination of American audiences as a neurosurgeon with an impeccable head of wild sunburnt curls (and undeniable chemistry with a certain actor playing a NASCAR driver) in the epic '80s love letter Days of Thunder, is not someone who would typically blend into a crowd. Standing at 5’11" in flats with posture to rival any monarch, skin that would make Rodin envious, and a soft Australian drawl, Kidman’s perfect composure has been studied by audiences for decades now.
And yet a quick run-through of her résumé shows a roster of characters as disparate as they are acclaimed. At times impervious, withdrawn, even funny (you must see Paddington), Kidman has proven time and again that disappearing into a role doesn't mean making yourself smaller. At the time of our interview, Kidman had just wrapped filming on the upcoming David E. Kelly thriller, The Undoing (premiering in 2020 on HBO) and during our quick call, shared with us what it was like to shed “an intense character.” For this Academy Award winner, the answer involves family, sun, and just the right mix of oil and water.
On staying relevant:
“I’ve had some amazing roles as an actress, but it’s just so nice to be at this stage and for people to still be responding to projects like Big Little Lies as passionately as, say, Moulin Rouge, or The Others, or any of the films that I made earlier in my career. It brings me to my knees. It’s been an eye-opener for me. Sometimes there is nothing there, and sometimes there are extraordinary opportunities. But if the passion is there, it keeps you going.”
On sacred rituals:
“I’ve just wrapped a limited series called The Undoing, where I played a character that’s very intense, so I’m in the process of ‘shedding’ her now. It’s a very strange feeling. When I’m working on a film, I don’t have time for myself. You’re working on adrenaline, and there’s an enormous amount of fatigue. Now I can do some yoga if I want to. I can go to the beach. I take hot baths with lots of oil. I love oil, and I love bathing in it.”
On saving face:
“I used to be like, ‘All those creams, who cares?’ But definitely as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized those creams are necessary. I’m shooting outdoors a lot, so the most important thing is the sunscreen — I use Neutrogena SPF 100+ [Kidman is a spokesperson for the brand]. I reapply every 90 minutes, every single day.”
On stealing beauty secrets:
“What my husband taught me is water, water, water. We drink so much water. I didn’t realize how important it was to hydrate and flush out. But because he’s a singer, that’s part of his routine. They know that they have to drink and that it helps the chords, but it also helps the skin; it helps all the organs. It keeps you healthy.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Allure. To get your copy, head to newsstands or subscribe now.
More on Nicole Kidman:
- Here’s What Nicole Kidman's Natural Hair Texture Actually Looks Like
- Nicole Kidman Just Made a Triumphant Return to Her Red Hair
- Nothing Keeps Nicole Kidman From Her Work
Now go behind the scenes of Sharon Stone's Allure November 2019 cover shoot:
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