10 Times Nicole Kidman Stunned Us On OTT
As Nicole Kidman delivers yet another impressive performance in the OTT series Scarpetta, we explore some of her other compelling movies and shows.
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in Scarpetta. Key Points Nicole Kidman recently starred as Dr Kay Scarpetta in the Prime Video series Scarpetta. Big Little Lies earned Kidman an Emmy for her powerful portrayal of a woman in an abusive marriage. Kidman's Oscar-winning performance as Virginia Woolf in The Hours is a career highlight. Her horror film The Others is a haunting period horror drama with a famous twist, inspiring Hindi remakes.
Nicole Kidman may be approaching her 60s (and, honestly, ageing like fine wine), but her body of work continues to grow more dynamic with each passing year. There is no slowing her down as the Oscar-and Emmy-winning actress keeps delivering compelling performances across both cinema and television.
Most recently, the Australian-born star was seen in Scarpetta, an eight-episode series streaming on Prime Video. Based on the bestselling book series by the same name, Kidman plays Dr Kay Scarpetta, a chief medical examiner in Virginia who uses her sharp forensic instincts and advanced technology to solve seemingly unsolvable crimes.
Developed by Liz Sarnoff, Scarpetta also features an impressive ensemble including Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker and Ariana DeBose. While the series has received mixed reviews, critics have largely praised its investigative sequences, and, of course, Kidman's performance.
If you enjoyed her work there and are looking for more, Sreeju Sudhakaran lists 10 standout films and shows featuring Nicole Kidman on OTT.
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies.
Based on Liane Moriarty's 2014 novel, Big Little Lies is a gripping drama about five women whose lives become entangled in a murder investigation.
The series tackles heavy themes, including domestic abuse and sexual assault, with Kidman delivering a powerful performance as a woman trapped in an abusive marriage to a chillingly convincing Alexander Skarsgard. The ensemble cast, which also features Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz, is equally impressive, with Meryl Streep joining in the second season. Kidman won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her performance.
Big Little Lies streams on JioHotstar.
The Undoing (2020)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in The Undoing.
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant headline this gripping mystery series as a seemingly perfect couple whose lives unravel after the husband is implicated in a murder.
As a psychologist, Kidman's character is forced to piece together the truth while revisiting her unsettling encounters with the victim.
Tightly structured across six episodes, The Undoing thrives on its twists and anchored performances from its leads.
The Undoing streams on JioHotstar.
Dogville (2003)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in Dogville.
Lars von Trier's experimental psychological drama casts Kidman as a mysterious woman who seeks refuge in a small town, only to be subjected to escalating cruelty by its residents.
Shot on minimalistic, stage-like sets, the film's stark aesthetic complements its unsettling themes, creating a surreal atmosphere. Also starring Paul Bettany, Stellan Skarsgård, and Chloë Sevigny, Dogville is a challenging but rewarding arthouse watch with a shocking climax.
Dogville is available on Mubi.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
IMAGE: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut.
Stanley Kubrick's final film made headlines for casting the then-married couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in a sexually-charged psychological drama.
Visually mesmerising, the film explores the fragility of marriage while delving into the shadowy world of secret societies. It also marks the last collaboration between Cruise and Kidman before their separation.
Eyes Wide Shut is available to rent on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
IMAGE: Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman in The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
Before his Oscar-winning collaborations with Emma Stone, Yorgos Lanthimos delivered this eerie psychological drama about a surgeon whose family is cursed by a mysterious young man.
Colin Farrell plays the troubled doctor, while Kidman portrays his equally unsettled wife. The film is slow-burning, unsettling, and laced with dark humour, with Barry Keoghan delivering a very creepy performance.
The Killing Of A Sacred Deer streams on Prime Video.
The Others (2001)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in The Others.
Did you know this horror drama inspired not one but two Hindi remakes? Hum Kaun Hai stars starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia and Dharmendra while Anjaane features Manisha Koirala and Sanjay Kapoor. Both are best forgotten.
A haunting period drama, The Others follows a mother living with her two photosensitive children in a remote country house, only to suspect that their home is being haunted by sinister forces. There is, of course, a twist, and if you have somehow avoided spoilers, you are in for a revelation that demands an immediate rewatch.
The Others is available to rent on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!.
Also known (to us Indians, at least) as the film that introduced the world to Anu Malik's Chamma Chamma (China Gate), Baz Luhrmann's dazzling musical is a passionate, star-crossed love story between a struggling poet and a courtesan who performs at the Moulin Rouge.
Nicole Kidman is absolutely luminous, and her chemistry with Ewan McGregor is both electric and heartbreaking. But the true showstoppers are the lavish musical numbers and the breathtaking production design.
Moulin Rouge! is available for free on Fawesome.
The Hours (2002)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in The Hours.
This list will not be complete without the film that won Nicole Kidman her first, and so far only, Academy Award.
A nearly unrecognisable Kidman plays Virginia Woolf, whose novel Mrs Dalloway connects the lives of two women across different time periods, even as she herself struggles with depression. The film boasts a stellar ensemble, including Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Miranda Richardson, Toni Collette, Allison Janney and Claire Danes, ensuring there is no shortage of acting brilliance here.
The Hours is available to rent on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
Lion (2016)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman and Sunny Pawar in Lion.
Based on the remarkable true story of Saroo Brierley, this Oscar-nominated drama follows a young boy (Sunny Pawar, who had starred in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire before this) separated from his poor family in India and later adopted by an Australian couple.
As an adult, he sets out to find his birth family, leading to a deeply emotional journey with a heartrending climax.
Dev Patel plays the adult Saroo, while Nicole Kidman, as his adoptive mother, delivers a moving performance with both receiving Oscar nominations. The film also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Deepti Naval.
Lion is streaming on Prime Video.
The Northman (2022)
IMAGE: Nicole Kidman in The Northman.
Robert Eggers' Viking period saga is a brutal and uncompromising tale of vengeance. It follows a warrior seeking to avenge his father's murder and rescue his abducted mother.
In an interesting casting twist, Alexander Skarsgard — who had played Kidman's abusive husband in Big Little Lies — plays her son here. Starkly shot and often unsettling, the film delivers raw, visceral action with the climactic nude duel atop a volcanic crater being a major highlight.
The Northman streams on Netflix.
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff
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