Nicole Kidman Opens Up About Filming Intimate Scenes in Babygirl
Nicole Kidman revealed the emotional and physical toll of filming intense sex scenes in her new A24 thriller Babygirl, saying she once had to pause filming because she “didn’t want to orgasm anymore.” The 57-year-old stars as a powerful businesswoman who jeopardizes her life through an affair with a younger intern, played by Harris Dickinson.
On The Graham Norton Show, Kidman shared how the bold role pushed her boundaries. Written and directed by Halina Reijn, the film was inspired by a story about a woman who had never experienced an orgasm in 25 years of marriage. Reijn aimed to explore women’s relationships with their bodies through this dark, erotic drama.
Kidman said filming intimate scenes with Dickinson and Antonio Banderas (who plays her husband) involved trust and vulnerability but also moments of emotional overwhelm. “I was like, ‘Don’t touch me. I don’t care if I’m never touched again,’” she admitted. “It left me ragged.”
Despite the challenges, her performance earned critical acclaim, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 2024 Venice Film Festival—though she missed the ceremony due to the sudden passing of her mother.
Babygirl was both a critical and box office success, grossing over $60 million on a $20 million budget. It sparked widespread discussion for its raw portrayal of intimacy, desire, and consent, and cemented Kidman’s reputation for fearless, boundary-pushing roles.