Four decades after his first feature film in 1983 BMX Bandits, Nicole Kidman, winner of an Oscar and two Emmy Awards, is set to receive a historic honor: the AFI Life Achievement Award, which, for the first time in 49 years, will be given to an Australian artist. But Kidman (born in the United States) considers herself part of world cinema, having worked with such renowned filmmakers as Stanley Kubrick (Eyes wide closed), Jane Campion (The portrait of a lady), Park Chan-wook (Driver), Sofia Coppola (The seduced), Baz Luhrmann (Red Mill!) and Jonathan Glazer (Birth). The actress and producer reflects on how this honor represents both a strong career and a full life.
You have received numerous awards throughout your career. What’s so special about this honor?
The list of winners who preceded me. I’m actually stunned because there are so few and there are no Australians. I was shocked.
Do you feel funny having to look at clips of your work over the years?
I’m not someone who looks back. I always look forward to it. It forced me to look back, which was quite nice. What’s really obvious to me is that I’ve traveled the world because I’ve worked with directors from almost every country. I have traveled to many different places around the world to make films and have worked with a large number of authors: Greek, Korean, English, Australian, American, Danish. Being honored by the American Film Institute is a huge honor for me because I was born in America; I had Australian parents, which is why I have dual citizenship. I always thought I was going to come to America and make films in Hollywood. But what I wanted was to make films everywhere. I wanted to see the world.
After working with so many filmmakers, what do you think makes a good collaborator?
Passion. You won’t get anywhere without unbridled passion, and probably obsession. (Laughs.) It takes a strong will to be able to make any film. Very often, it is against all expectations. And I worked on all formats, from small to low budget and big budget, which is what I wanted to do too. I love being able to step foot into all these worlds.
Is there a Nicole Kidman movie that if you watched on TV, you wouldn’t turn it off?
It’s up to others to respond. You put it out into the world, and where it lands is where it lands – who it finds [is who] it’s supposed to find. It’s none of my business, and it better not be, because I’m not doing it for me. I do it to share, to contribute or to be part of the world. Let’s hope that the little ones find their place and that the adults find their place. And so-called failures sometimes have a second or third life.
Is there a project that surprised you with how audiences connected with it?
There are always surprises. People come to me for everything…
