“He didn’t want sycophants”: 1 Strict Rule Both Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman Had to Follow on Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’

Nicole Kidman has always been known for pushing boundaries in cinema with her fearless roles. From Eyes Wide Shut to her latest film Babygirl, the Oscar winner has not stopped challenging conventional narratives of sexuality and power dynamics on screen.

Stanley Kubrick, the legendary movie director, was also known for his attention to detail and strict approach on set. When he started filming Eyes Wide Shut with then Hollywood’s hottest couple, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, he also set a clear expectation.

Stanley Kubrick’s Approach While Filming Eyes Wide Shut

Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 psychological drama directed by Stanley Kubrick. The principal characters of the movie are Dr. Bill Harford, played by Tom Cruise, and his wife Alice Harford, played by Nicole Kidman. It shows the story of a seemingly happily married couple until Alice shares with Bill a sexual fantasy that changes the dynamics of the film.

Kubrick’s style of filming was quite unconventional. The director took almost two years to complete the film, and for one bedroom scene, it took him six weeks on the set. The scene was Kidman’s character smoking a joint and giving a monologue that would bring complications into her marriage.

Kidman’s role as Alice Harford was quite complex and provocative as well. Besides, what made this extended filming period unique was Kubrick’s primary rule: no one should treat him like a legendary director. In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Kidman revealed,

The great thing about him is that he told us, “Don’t put me on a pedestal.” That’s the No. 1 rule. Because when we came to his house, we were like, “Oh, my God. The great Stanley Kubrick.” And that kind of thinking hinders the creative process.

He didn’t want sycophants. He told us to throw ideas out. And everyone has to wait at least 10 seconds before they say no to an idea. I heard that, and I’m in my 20s, and I’m like, “OK. It’s on.” It was experimental, like making student films in Australia.

Kubrick’s direction to Kidman for the bedroom scene was simple. According to Kidman, he said, “Remember, Nicole. The key to the scene is that Alice is stoned.” The film’s intimacy was built with trust, which made the scenes seem believable. Although Kubrick’s approach was direct, it gave one of Kidman’s most talked-about performances. 

Nicole Kidman’s Challenging Shift for Babygirl

After about 25 years, Kidman’s approach to intimate scenes has evolved, as demonstrated in her new movie, Babygirl. The new erotic thriller of A24 depicts a powerful CEO played by Kidman in an affair with a young intern. However, the movie’s filming process has been quite different from that of Eyes Wide Shut.

Filming the scenes with such intensity challenged Kidman most of the time. She said to The Sun about forcing herself to do intimate scenes that led to her emotional exhaustion.

There was an enormous amount of sharing and trust and then frustration. It’s like, ‘Don’t touch me’. There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more. Don’t come near me. I hate doing this.

However, Kidman completed the shoot, and according to Deadline, the actress described the process as “liberating,” especially because it was presented from a female perspective.

The production was flexible to time constraints, which provided a healthy environment within which Kidman and co-star Harris Dickinson could act comfortably without worrying much. Babygirl represents what Kidman described as “new territory,” and it also helped the veteran actress understand her unexplored emotional landscape a bit more.

Babygirl will be released in theaters on December 25, 2024.