Nicole Kidman is a legendary actress, who has contributed greatly to the film industry. She has acted in a wide range of movies throughout her career, from high-profile blockbusters to smaller independent productions. But sometimes even the most talented actors make decisions that they later regret.
The 55-year-old actress and her ex-husband, Tom Cruise were once one of Hollywood’s most desirable couples. According to Cruise, when they first met while filming Days of Thunder in 1990, they were instantly attracted to each other right away.
Soon after getting hitched in 1990, they made another movie, Far and Away (1992). Kidman and Cruise have collaborated on a number of projects. But did you know that the American-Australian actress once felt she should not be a star as she believed her fame was solely a result of Top Gun actor?
One would think Kidman would be excited to work with Cruise, but years later she regretted her decision to make a movie so soon after their marriage.
How Nicole Kidman’s Career Was Impacted By Tom Cruise’s Fame
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were accustomed to working together on movies. They initially met in the drama, Days of Thunder, where Kidman played a doctor, who fell in love with a race car driver. She admitted in a 1995 interview with Entertainment Weekly that she should have thought more carefully about the potential career consequences of working on a movie with Cruise so soon after their wedding.
Following her marriage to The Mummy star, Kidman spoke more candidly about her life in the spotlight in an interview with DuJour. At the height of their romance, the former couple faced constant tabloid and paparazzi attention.
The actress then said:
“We were in a bubble. Just the two of us. We became very dependent on one another.”
Her career was impacted by Cruise’s star power as well. She felt that her partner played a significant role in shaping who she was as an actor. The former couple had reteamed for the Stanley Kubrick movie, Eyes Wide Shut after Kidman had gained more acting experience. The main focus of the movie was a married couple trying to improve their relationship by spicing up their s*xual life.
However, the 55-year-old actress sobbed during the film’s take of a scene in which Cruise and Kidman were debating whether to be faithful in their marriage.
“I was hysterical. We filmed that particular scene for over three weeks. I think Stanley shot 300 takes! It was an exhausting project, but in the end everyone felt they accomplished something special. I know critics think the movie is dark, but I think there is hope.”
She Once Believed Tom Cruise Was The Only Reason She Became A Star
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were married from 1990 to 2001. Kidman experienced the breakup as somewhat of a surprise at the time.
“I thought our life together was perfect,” she said.
The actress even admitted that she needed some time to heal from the divorce. But looking back, she recalled thinking that a big part of her star power depended on her friendship with Cruise. She struggled with this so much that she didn’t always feel like she belonged with her peers in the film industry.
She told Glamour:
“I felt I became a star only by association. I didn’t think [my early movies] were very good, which is why I would always cower in the background. I thought, I don’t deserve to be here. We would go to the Oscars and I would think, ‘I’m here to support him.’”
This statement caused quite a stir in the entertainment industry. While some people believed Nicole Kidman was being overly self-critical, others believed she was speaking the truth. But as she said, she is in a better place now with her current husband, Keith Urban.
“I’m in a place of gratitude and humility. I touch wood every day. The journey of life – we all go through it. You have love, you lose love, you find new love. To have love again is a beautiful thing.”
And, today, the Aquaman actress is regarded as one of the most gifted actors in the industry, and Tom Cruise is no longer solely responsible for her success. Millions of women all over the world now look up to her as an inspiration because she forged her own path.
She will next be seen playing Atlanna in Aquaman 2, which will debut on 20 December 2023.
Source- Glamour
