Proposal: Since Australia (grew up there, family and friends) and the US (born in Honolulu, lives in Nashville) share the one and only Nicole Kidman with citizenship and residence, a national holiday won't do. We propose an International Nicole Kidman Day, each June 20th to mark the birthday of one of the big screen's bravest and best and most beautiful.
Herewith a few lists to mark the day...
SIGNATURE WORK
The roles with which she'll arguably always be most associated
- Moulin Rouge! (2001) -which speaks to her bonafide movie-star charisma
- The Hours (2002) -which boldly underlined her cool (divisive) persona and intelligence
- To Die For (1995) -her breakthrough and which initially and ungenerously clung to her rapid rise as a star on another star's arm
BRAVEST PERFORMANCE
- The Paperboy (2012) - the psychic sex, the skanky past her prime makeup, the death wish
- Birth (2004) - "you're a little liar, aren't you?"
- Dogville (2003) -Here are some chalk lines, hyper stylized dialogue, and precious tchotchkes. Action!
SEXIEST PERFORMANCE
- Moulin Rouge! (2001)
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- Batman Forever (1995)
- To Die For (1995)
- The Paperboy (2012)
FUNNIEST PERFORMANCE
- To Die For (1995)
- Moulin Rouge! (2001)
- Herself... on talk shows
MOST AWARDS LOVE
- The Hours (2002) - Oscar & Globe & BAFTA & Silver Bear wins, SAG nom
- Moulin Rouge! (2001) - Globe & MTV win, Oscar, SAG & AACTA noms
- To Die For (1995) - Globe & BFCA win, BAFTA nom
- Rabbit Hole (2010) - Oscar, Globe & SAG noms
- The Paperboy (2012) - Globe & SAG & AACTA noms
IT'S ALL IN A NAME
- "Grace" 3 characters: The Others (1995), Dogville (2003), Grace of Monaco (2014)
- "Isabel" 2 characters: Bewitched (2005) and Portrait of a Lady (1996)
- "Julia" 2 characters: Wills & Burke (1985) and The Peacemaker (1997)
BIGGEST GLOBAL HITS
*Movies that were far far more successful overseas than in the US
- The Golden Compass (2005) $372*
- Batman Forever (1995) $336
- Paddington (2015) $259*
- Just Go With It (2011) $214
- Australia (2008) $211*
- The Others (2001) $209
- Moulin Rouge! (2001) $179*
- Cold Mountain (2003) $173
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999) $162*
- Days of Thunder (1990) $157
MOST COMMON ONSCREEN PROFESSIONS
- Actress - 4 roles: Grace of Monaco, Nine, Bewitched, Moulin Rouge!)
- Writer - 4 roles: Margot at the Wedding, The Hours, Hemingway & Gelhorn, Genius)
- Reluctant Sexworker (or thereabouts) - 3 roles: Moulin Rouge!'s whore, Birthday Girl's mail order bride, Far and Away's temporary burlesque dancer)
- Psychiatrist - 2 roles: The Invasion, Batman Forever
- Boss Lady Who Moonlights in Kidnapping - 2 roles: The Golden Compass, Paddington
MOST FREQUENT CO-STARS
- Tom Cruise (Marriage + 3 films: Far and Away, Days of Thunder, Eyes Wide Shut)
- Colin Firth (3 films: Before I Go To Sleep, The Railway Man, and the forthcoming Genius)
[tied with] David Wenham (3 films: Australia, Moulin Rouge! and the forthcoming Lion) - Jude Law (2 films: Cold Mountain, and the forthcoming Genius)
[tied with] Ben Mendelsohn (2 films: Australia, Trespass), Daniel Craig (2 films: The Invasion, The Golden Compass), and Dianne Wiest (2 films: Practical Magic and Rabbit Hole)
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE HER FOR HER BIRTHDAY
- More of whatever makes her happy
- One more classic as beloved as Moulin Rouge! or as Oscar-honored as The Hours or as widely argued over / prestigey as Eyes Wide Shut or as audience-friendly as The Others (we're not picky/greedy... any of those will do)
- A project to do with her bestie Naomi Watts. It's been since Flirting (1991) c'mon...
- A project to do with Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!) or Stephen Dillane (The Hours) because MY GOD THE CHEMISTRY in both of those cases. Why hasn't she worked with either again?
Naturally, in the comments you'll want to share your five favorite things about this goddess and what you'd give her for her birthday