Tom Cruise Hails Nicole Kidman: A 'Great Actress' in "Eyes Wide Shut"
Nicole Kidman's impressive acting skills applauded by Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise, Hollywood's action powerhouse and BFI Fellowship recipient, spoke glowingly about his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, in a recent interview. Their groundbreaking collaboration came in 1999's provocative drama, "Eyes Wide Shut", directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick.
In a candid conversation with 'Sight and Sound' magazine, Cruise reflects on the early stages of the film, sharing how he recommended Kidman for the lead role. "As I began preparing for Eyes Wide Shut with Kubrick, I knew Nicole's talent and suggested her for the part," reminisced Cruise.
Cruise's collaboration with Kubrick was unconventional, as the script was still in development. According to Cruise, they worked with a limited crew during the summer, constantly rewriting and reshooting scenes to capture the essence of the film.
Their unique filmmaking experience allowed Kidman and Cruise to delve deep into their characters. "Kubrick's method demanded constant rewrites and reshoots, pushing us both to explore the complex themes of marriage and infidelity in the film," shared Cruise.
Behind the intense emotions portrayed on set, there were lighter moments. Cruise recalls their go-kart races after filming, which helped to alleviate the tension from the film's provocative scenes.
Years after their collaboration, Cruise has expressed admiration for Kidman's acting abilities. This praise is noteworthy considering the scarcity of comments from Cruise about his ex-wife in recent times.
Another notable figure in Cruise's career is the late Val Kilmer, who played the iconic character "Iceman" in the original "Top Gun". "Val was a force on-screen", gushed Cruise. He remembered filming scenes like they happened yesterday, adding, "When you act alongside someone who's undeniably 'on fire', it's exhilarating."
Recently, Kilmer made a poignant appearance in the blockbuster sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick", as "Iceman" once again. Cruise spoke admiringly of Kilmer's performance, especially his silent portrayal in the sequel despite his throat cancer diagnosis.
On May 14, Cruise will present the upcoming eighth installment of the "Mission: Impossible" series, "The Final Reckoning", at the Cannes Film Festival.
[1] https://arinow.si.edu/stanley-kubrick-interviews/[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyes_Wide_Shut[3] https://www.etonline.com/tom-cruise-opens-up-about-ex-wife-nicole-kidman-and-the-great-actress-that-became-alice-in-eyes-wide-shut-175245[4] https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/01/nicole-kidman-eyes-wide-shut-interview[5] https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/nicole-kidman-ecstasy-interview
- In an interview with 'Sight and Sound' magazine, Tom Cruise, who is known for his action roles and collaboration with the British Film Institute (BFI), spoke about his ex-wife Nicole Kidman and their film project, "Eyes Wide Shut".
- Cruise described how he recommended Kidman for the lead role in "Eyes Wide Shut" while working with legendary director Stanley Kubrick.
- While working together on the film, Cruise and Kidman encountered an unconventional filmmaking process, as the script was still in development and they worked with a limited crew during the summer, often engaging in constant rewrites and reshoots.
- Despite the intense nature of the collaboration and the provocative themes in the film, Cruise shared lighter moments like go-kart races with Kidman, which helped alleviate the tension from the film's scenes.
