"I get to Kiss Batman"— Nicole Kidman talks about why she took the role in Batman Forever

Nicole Kidman, the acclaimed Australian actress known for her diverse filmography, recently opened up about one of her earlier roles that left many puzzled at the time: Dr. Chase Meridian in the 1995 superhero film Batman Forever.

On August 28, in an interview with L’Officiel USA conducted for the September cover 2024, the 57-year-old actress explained how the decision to play a role in a commercially successful film was rather unusual for her. Kidman said,

"Everyone’s like, 'Why are you doing that?’ I’m like, ‘Because I get to kiss Batman!'"

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Nicole Kidman shares her passion for different genres of films

During the Interview, Nicole Kidman further defended her decision to take the role, noting,

"The thing people don’t understand is, it’s not about the check. A lot of mainstream big blockbusters that I do are hopefully different."

Actress Nicole Kidman has played a vast array of roles in her acting career, which spans such genres as drama, comedy, fantasy, romance, and even superhero movies.

Her involvement in Batman Forever is in contrast with the dramatic movies that she had acted in almost all through her initial years. Yet, it’s this very versatility that has helped her remain relevant in the entertainment industry for the past decades.

This diversification is also seen in Nicole Kidman’s more recent productions as she has continued to venture into different genres. She was featured in last year’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is also a superhero film that added her to the DC Comic Universe.

But her passion for genre films extends beyond superheroes. Kidman revealed her interest in "hardcore horror," a genre she has yet to fully explore, saying,

"I’ve not done classic horror yet. Hardcore horror. I’m putting it out there because I watch hardcore horror. I’m a fan of Ti West!"

Though Nicole Kidman did not do many outings in horror, she has dabbled in thriller movies like The Others released in the year 2001, and the movie Stoker in the year 2013. The latter, directed by Park Chan-wook, remains one of her lesser-known works but is a personal favorite of the actress. She added,

"[Director] Park Chan-wook, I love him. That monologue — that was the reason I did it."

Celebrity Sightings In New York City - December 15, 2023 - Source: Getty

Given her recent films, Babygirl will be one of the most difficult roles for Kidman as she continues challenging herself. The erotic thriller by Halina Reijn is to be premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 30, 2024.

In the film, Nicole Kidman is a businesswoman who finds herself entangled in an extramarital affair with an intern played by Harris Dickinson. The role in the movie proved to be challenging for Kidman both in the physical and emotional aspects of the character.

"At some point I was like, 'I don’t want to be touched. I don’t want to do this anymore,' but at the same time I was compelled to do it," she told L’Officiel. "[Director Halina Reijn] would hold me and I would hold her, because it was just very confronting to me."

Kidman described her experience working on Babygirl as intense and deeply personal.

"I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being," she confessed.

The film, which also stars Antonio Banderas as her character’s husband, is expected to make waves when it hits theaters on December 25, 2024.

With her interest in horror, fans may soon see her take on a darker, more intense role in the future. For now, her fans can see Nicole Kidman in The Perfect Couple, a Netflix thriller series set for release on September 5, 2024, where she portrays the character of Greer Garrison, a murder suspect.