Nicole Kidman On Filming Erotic Drama: 'What Have I Just Done?'

Nicole Kidman stars alongside Harris Dickinson in the upcoming erotic film, "Babygirl," an A24 feature directed by Halina Reijn, known for "Bodies Bodies Bodies."

The film, first announced in November 2023, explores the story of a successful CEO (Kidman) who embarks on a secret affair with her younger intern (Dickinson). The cast also includes Antonio Banderas, Victor Slezak, Esther McGregor, and breakout star Sophie Wilde from "Talk to Me."

Ahead of its release, Nicole Kidman opened up about how "exposed" she felt filming "Babygirl."

Kidman, who is married to country music star Keith Urban, has yet to see "Babygirl" and is uncertain if the film’s premiere at the Venice International Film Festival next week will be the moment she finally does.

“There’s something in me going, Okay, this was made for the big screen and to be seen with people,” she told Vanity Fair. “But then I’m like, That’s a high-wire act. I’m not sure I have that much bravery," she admitted, referring to the erotic film. “I’ve made some films that are pretty exposing, but not like this."

“I know we accomplished one thing, and that is that we made a really hot movie,” Director Halina Reijn chimed in. “I don't know about good, bad—that’s up to everybody—but I’m sure of that.”

The actress reflected on what it was like filming the erotic movie, admitting, "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."

"[Director Halina Reijn] would hold me and I would hold her because it was just very confronting to me,” she continued. “It’s like, 'Golly, I’m doing this, and it’s actually now going to be seen by the world.' That’s a very weird feeling. This is something you do and hide in your home videos. It is not a thing that normally is going to be seen by the world.”

“I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being,” Kidman later told the outlet. “I had to go in and go out like, I need to put my protection back on. 'What have I just done? Where did I go? What did I do?' ”

When speaking about the film, Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera told Variety that "Babygirl" is “about a sadomasochistic relationship within an American corporation” and is a testament to the changing culture.

“Compared to other similar films, the ending actually testifies to the differences between now and the past,” Barbera added. “A film on this same theme 20 or 30 years ago would have ended very differently. Without spoilers, I will say that the female protagonist who engages in illicit behavior, so to speak, in the past would have been punished.”

Kidman has recently focused on TV roles in series like "Lioness," "Expats," and Netflix’s "A Family Affair," where she starred alongside Zac Efron, who portrays movie star Chris Cole, with Joey King playing his personal assistant, Zara.

Kidman takes on the role of Zara's mother, Brooke, while Kathy Bates portrays her grandmother, Leila.

"To be honest, I came into it and the cast was already set, so I knew their chemistry as soon as our first day rehearsals on set," Director Richard Lagravenese said, per CinemaBlend. "And they saw each other and embraced and talked about old times and their friendship was apparent right from the start and their ability to connect and work off of each other was so easy and so graceful. You knew right from the start."

After hearing about the new movie, many fans couldn't help but point out the age difference between Kidman, who is 57 years old, and Efron, who is 36--but the director never thought twice about this.

"When we were making the movie, the age disparity never came into question," he said. "I never thought of it because she's Nicole Kidman and she's kind of ageless. And, the two of them just have this great connection. I think it's one of those cultural things where we hit a wave of a common idea, but it wasn't conscious, you know, it just sort of happened. It wasn't on purpose."

"A Family Affair" is out now. "Babygirl" hits theaters in December.