Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson are set to deliver a bold performance in their forthcoming erotic thriller “Babygirl,” directed and written by Halina Reijn.
In the film, Kidman takes on the role of a tech company CEO who engages in a provocative affair with her younger intern, portrayed by Dickinson. Kidman recently received the Best Actress award at the Venice International Film Festival for her performance in this A24 project.
To navigate the film’s more explicit scenes, intimacy coordinator Lizzie Talbot was brought in to set guidelines. Dickinson shared that the process involved discussions with Talbot to determine comfort levels before they improvised within those boundaries. He noted, “The intimacy coordinator is saying, ‘What are you comfortable with, what do you want as a director, what are you comfortable doing from that vision?’”
Following a screening of “Babygirl,” Kidman reflected on the challenges she faced while filming. She humorously stated, “The whole thing,” before elaborating on the need to be open and genuine in her performance. She emphasized the importance of creating a safe atmosphere for exploration while hoping not to come across poorly on screen.
One particularly audacious scene features Dickinson dancing nearly nude in a hotel room to George Michael’s “Father Figure,” without any prior rehearsal. He recounted, “Halina put the song on and said, ‘Just dance.’ So I just had a little groove. Maybe I had a little whiskey before. But it was embarrassing.”
Dickinson expressed his amazement at working alongside Kidman, frequently asking her about her experiences with legendary director Stanley Kubrick. He described her as an approachable and encouraging presence on set, stating, “She is like the most comforting, warm performer to work across from. She sets the tone on set, and she makes it so easy to be vulnerable and to be funny.”
He further praised Kidman’s adventurous spirit and playful nature, which he found made the filming process enjoyable and less daunting.