Nicole Kidman Thought She Was ‘Terrible’ in This ‘Big Little Lies’ Scene
Nicole Kidman earned a Golden Globe and an Emmy — among other accolades from critics and fans alike — for her role in the first season of HBO’s Big Little Lies. But in a new interview with Variety, the actress confessed that she had concerns about her performance in one particular scene.
“When I saw the therapy scene, which people really responded to, I thought I was terrible,” Kidman said, referring to the moment when her character, Celeste, sat down with Dr. Amanda Reisman, played by Robin Weigert.
“Everyone was like, ‘No, no!'” she told Variety. “I think it was because I felt too exposed and vulnerable. It was probably too much for me to see.”
Kidman also opened up to the publication about BLL newcomer Meryl Streep, who will appear as Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Celeste’s late husband Perry (Alexander Skarsgård). According to Variety, Streep reached out to Kidman and her BLL costar and executive producer Reese Witherspoon about being a part of the series.
“She goes, ‘I suppose now I have to join you.’ And we were like, ‘What?’ The two of us were just shocked,” Kidman said, adding that they didn’t even have a script for the second season at the time. “She hadn’t even read it. That’s how much she wanted to support us.”
Still, Kidman says she was “terrified” to work with Streep. “You’re acting opposite the great one,” she explained. “I get nervous anyway — but to be opposite her and not want her to think, ‘Who is this amateur?’ And also, we want to deliver a series for her that she’s great in. Reese and I were like, ‘We want this for her and for the other women.’ They have much stronger roles in the second one.”
Details about season 2 are scarce, but HBO says it will “explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode … the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.” We also know that Celeste is still dealing with Perry’s death and is “determined to fight for her family and find the woman she once was.”
What did you think of Nicole Kidman’s performance in Big Little Lies? Let us know @BritandCo!
(photo via Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/HBO)
