Why Nicole Kidman 'Didn't Feel Exploited' While Playing Sensual Character In Erotic Drama 'Babygirl'

Nicole Kidman has revealed why she comfortably took on a sex-filled role in Halina Reijn's erotic thriller, "Babygirl."

In a press interview, the actress shared that working with Reijn was the reason, as she knew the director wasn't "gonna exploit" her.

Nicole Kidman starred in the film as Romy, a high-ranking CEO who falls for an intern several years younger than her.

At the ongoing Venice Film Festival, Kidman spoke to the press about starring in a steamy role for Reijn's "Babygirl."

According to the actress, having a female director in charge of the movie made her deeply invested in embodying all of what her role required.

"That's what made it so compelling, was being in the hands of Halina, because I knew she wasn't gonna exploit me," Kidman explained, per People Magazine. "I mean, however anyone interprets that, I didn't feel exploited."

Unbothered by the ambiguity of her words, Kidman also shared that she not only felt unexploited but also "very much a part of" the erotic thriller.

She added, "It's the story that I wanted to be a part of, that I wanted to tell. And every part of me was committed to that."

Reflecting on her experience working with Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, Antonio Banderas, and the rest of the talented cast and crew, Kidman revealed that they all took "enormous care" and were all "very, very gentle with each other and helped each other."

Kidman further mentioned that she hopes viewers, especially females, see the movie as a "liberating story."

"This is one woman's story, and this is, I hope, a very liberating story," the actress said. "It's told by a woman through her gaze ... and that's what, to me, made it so unique, was that suddenly I was gonna be in the hands of a woman with this material."

In the erotic thriller, Kidman starred as Romy, a powerful CEO who starts a romantic relationship with an intern named Samuel, played by Dickinson.

While the age gap and the awkwardness of having a romance in a professional setting set up a dramatic situation between the duo, Kidman's character, being married to a theatre director (Banderas) and having two children with him, made the storyline even more intriguing.

It wasn't all rosy for Kidman while filming the movie. According to the actress, playing the role left her "ragged."

"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," Kidman revealed during an interview with Vanity Fair. "Halina would hold me and I would hold her, because it was just very confronting to me."

Even now that the film has premiered at a festival, Kidman shared that she still leans on the female director for emotional support, as she hasn't fully adjusted to the reality that her sensual scenes are now in full public view.

She added, "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.

While "Babygirl" will officially debut in theaters in December, fans of the actress who are interested in a recent project from her can watch her in the romantic comedy "A Family Affair."

In the movie, which is currently available on Netflix, Kidman shares the spotlight with Zac Effron. The duo previously starred in "The Paperboy," a 2012 American crime drama thriller.

Although over a decade has passed since that first work together, Kidman revealed in an interview that the experience helped with having to play the intimate scenes in "A Family Affair."

"It's really helpful when you're doing this sort of work together that you've already got a history together, because it's easy," she explained, per People Magazine. "You're not working to create a history. So I'm not like, 'Can I touch you?' I feel incredibly trusting of Zac."

In April, Kidman was honored with the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding career as an actress.

At the ceremony, she gave a very touching speech while receiving her award, thanking the long list of directors she has worked with over the course of her career, such as Jane Campion, Baz Luhrmann, Sofia Coppola, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Sydney Pollack.

"It is a privilege to make films. And glorious to have made films and television with these storytellers who allowed me to run wild and be free and play all of these unconventional women," Kidman said during the speech, per ABC News.

She added, "Thank you for making me better at my craft and giving me a place, however temporary, in this world."

Kidman's selection for the award was announced in November 2022. Initially slated for June 2023, the ceremony was postponed due to Hollywood's strikes.