With a career spanning decades, Australian-American actress and producer Nicole Kidman has solidified her status as a Hollywood icon. Her versatility and talent have seamlessly transitioned from the big screen to the small, with notable roles in streaming series. Kidman’s latest endeavor, Netflix’s highly anticipated The Perfect Couple, is set to premiere on September 5, 2024, marking another exciting chapter in her phenomenal career.
To celebrate Kidman’s remarkable talent, we’ve compiled a list of her most iconic roles in film and television. This curated selection showcases her impressive range and versatility, offering a glimpse into her most unforgettable moments on screen, and you can add these to your watchlist once you’ve binge-watched The Perfect Couple!
1. Moulin Rouge (2001)
In 2001, Nicole Kidman stunned the world with her performance in Moulin Rouge, directed by Baz Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby, Elvis). Kidman played the role of Satine, a performer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, in this musical romance drama. This movie was one of Luhrmann and Kidman’s best works and was filled with some of the most passionate drama on screen.
Kidman was joined by Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, John Leguizamo, Jacek Koman, Caroline O’Connor, Kerry Walker, Lara Mulcahy, and Garry McDonald amongst others. If you’re looking to watch an English poet fall hopelessly in love with Kidman’s character, Moulin Rouge is your best bet.
2. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Stanley Kubrick is notably one of the finest directors to have ever lived, and while we love some of his more popular works like The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Full Metal Jacket, we believe Eyes Wide Shut, starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise as leads also deserves an applause. This movie was released two years before Kidman and Cruise’s divorce, making it their final collaboration together.
Eyes Wide Shut is a phenomenal erotic psychological drama where Kidman delivered a stunning performance as Alice Harford and was also joined by Cruise, Sydney Pollack, Todd Field, Marie Richardson, Sky du Mont, Rade Šerbedžija, Thomas Gibson, Vinessa Shaw, Fay Masterson, Alan Cumming, and Leelee Sobieski.
3. Nine Perfect Strangers (2021)
You can count on Kidman to pick some of the most unique and strange scripts and turn them into pure magic, and this especially stands true for Prime Video’s series, Nine Perfect Strangers, created by David E. Kelley (Boston Legal, Presumed Innocent). This series has also been renewed for a second season, so all those who loved, and were also terrified by Kidman’s exceptional performance, might have something to look forward to.
Kidman plays the role of Masha, the head of a wellness resort, Tranquillum House that invites guests and promises to heal them, but things are never as they appear. In this series, Kidman is joined by Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Luke Evans, Samara Weaving, Asher Keddie, Melvin Gregg, Tiffany Boone, and Manny Jacinto amongst others.
4. Big Little Lies (2017)
2017 witnessed the release of what would go on to be one of the most beloved series amongst fans, Big Little Lies. This series was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and Andrea Arnold and was based on Liane Moriarty’s novel.
This series was well-received by viewers and critics from all across the globe, and Kidman’s performance as Celeste Wright stood out despite a star-studded ensemble cast.
Big Little Lies was the perfect blend of black comedy and drama, where Kidman was also joined by Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Adam Scott, Alexander Skarsgård, Zoë Kravitz, James Tupper, Jeffrey Nordling, Laura Dern, Kathryn Newton, and Meryl Streep.
5. Expats (2024)
We have to admit, we are focusing more on Kidman’s performances on the small screen for this list, not only because of her Netflix series, The Perfect Couple but also because Kidman has made quite the splash on streaming platforms in the last few years, including 2024, with the Prime Video series, Expats.
Created and directed by Lulu Wang, Exapts featured Kidman as Margaret Woo, who was also joined by Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, Brian Tee, Tiana Gowen, Bodhi del Rosario, Ruby Ruiz, Amelyn Pardenilla, and Jack Huston.
Conclusion
Nicole Kidman has been one of the leading actresses for a long time, and now, she continues to shine on the big, and small screen. We’re certain Kidman’s performance in The Perfect Couple will be yet another win to her impressive roster.