Nicole Kidman, following her recent divorce from Keith Urban, shared her perspective on sex and intimacy during a revealing interview. The actress spoke about her attraction to daring roles centered on sexuality, highlighting how these characters allow her to explore complex dimensions of power and vulnerability. This insight comes as Kidman continues to be recognized for her work in films that challenge conventional portrayals of intimacy.
Insights into Kidman’s Approach to Sex in Film
In an interview conducted weeks before her separation from Urban, the 58-year-old actress discussed the shift in Hollywood roles for women and the importance of sex as a subject. She acknowledged the persistent taboo surrounding sexuality in society, despite its fundamental role in human experience. While Kidman gravitates toward characters with bold sexual narratives, she revealed a contrast in her personal nature.
I don’t know, isn’t that weird that I don’t know why?
Nicole Kidman told Vogue.
Sex is an important part of our lives and is still, a lot of times, taboo, and it shouldn’t be.
Though her professional choices often embrace provocative scenes, Kidman described herself as introverted, presenting a complex balance between her private self and public persona.
Notable Roles Illustrate Her Exploration of Sexuality
Kidman has built a career on characters who navigate various aspects of sexual expression and power dynamics. She referenced her film Babygirl as a thematic counterpart to 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut, which starred Tom Cruise. She humorously noted the contrast in their endings, one closing with her character’s expletive and the other with an intimate act.

Her roles have included a wide range of provocative depictions: in Birthday Girl (2001), she played a character involved in bondage; in Birth (2004), she portrayed a woman who kisses a child she believes reincarnates her late husband; and in The Paperboy (2012), her character urinates on another after a jellyfish sting. Her more recent work, including Babygirl and Netflix’s A Family Affair, features her as a partner engaged with younger men, with Babygirl exploring a submissive-dominant relationship dynamic.
Risks and Growth in Her Acting Journey
Kidman emphasized that taking risks has been essential to her career, and she does not linger on her failures. She explained that perseverance is part of her process as an actress, especially when approaching roles that challenge her comfort zone.
You get back up and you try again and you learn,
she said.
I love when I’m moving out of my own knowledge into a place of…it’s almost like free-falling,
Kidman added, expressing the fulfillment she finds in stepping beyond familiar territory.
Why Kidman’s Candidness Matters
Kidman’s openness about sex and her career risks adds a nuanced voice to conversations about female sexuality and representation in film. As she continues to take on diverse roles, her willingness to confront societal taboos could inspire more complex storytelling around intimacy. Her reflections suggest that audiences may expect further bold performances from her that challenge traditional boundaries in cinema.