Academy Award-winning actress, Nicole Kidman, who once referred to her early marriage with Tom Cruise as a protective measure, is often questioned about her relationship with the Top Gun actor, given his obsession and urge to micro-manage women. During the promotional event for her 2021 movie, Being The Ricardos, an interview used a sexist anecdote targeted at her failed marriage with Tom Cruise.
Nicole Kidman Felt Pigeonholed By The Sexist Question
During a promotional event for Aaron Sorkin-directed biographical drama, Being the Ricardos (2021), a British publication fired a rather sexist question at Nicole Kidman, who alleged that she was still in love with Cruise. The actress was explaining the relationship between Lucy Ball and Desi Arnaz (played by Spanish actor, Javier Bardem) in the movie.
Kidman explained:
“Sometimes you’re going to fall in love with someone who isn’t going to be the person you spend the rest of your life with.
That’s all very relatable. You may have kids with them. You may not, but they were very much in love.”
On this, the interviewer instantly quoted Tom Cruise and asked if she was referring to her relationship with her ex-husband. The “sexist question” left the Big Little Lies actress angry as she responded:
“Oh, my God, no, no. Absolutely not. No. I mean, that’s, honestly, so long ago that it isn’t in this equation. So, no.”
“I would ask not to be pigeonholed that way, either. It feels to me almost sexist because I’m not sure anyone would say that to a man. And at some point, you go, ‘Give me my life. In its own right.”
Before this, Kidman made a rare comment on Tom Cruise in a personal essay for New York Magazine in 2018. She revealed that being married to Cruise at 22 in 1990, was a decision that came from her desperation of being protected from the predators in the industry.
Being the Ricardos Was A Mix Of Love And High Emotions
Nicole Kidman’s 2021 movie, Being the Ricardos was based on the marital relationship of I Love Lucy stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Kidman, who played Ball in the biographical film, revealed that during the movie, she learned how “the dynamic of the Hollywood couple had its pros and cons throughout their time together”.
Kidman and her co-star, Javier Bardem (who played Lucy Ball’s husband) portrayed the story of two happily married couple, who appeared on six seasons of I Love Lucy. However, despite the closeness, their relationship was as volatile as it comes. Kidman explained:
“I like to focus on their successes as a partnership because, as I’ve said, all relationships end. They could end because somebody dies – They could end because you break up.
They could end because you get separated and can’t get back — whatever it is, they all end. We know that.”
Kidman shared how the two lovers and business partners were “brilliant at protecting each other” despite their split. The two shared an “undeniable bond” that “carried them through stardom and co-parenting” their children, Lucie and Desi Jr.
The movie received three nominations at the 94th Academy Awards and the 79 Golden Globe Awards. Kidman took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress-Motion Picture Drama. The movie, however, garnered mixed reviews as it “couldn’t truly capture” its subjects’ brilliant star power.
Being the Ricardos (2021) is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Cosmopolitan
