Hollywood star Nicole Kidman says she ‘played it safe’ with her career in the past but now always looks for roles that will challenge her.
Kidman has a very successful career in Hollywood with string of acclaimed films under her belt over the year. The 51 year-old actress has carved a niche for herself.
Her breakthrough came in 1989 with the thriller Dead Calm and the television miniseries Bangkok Hilton. In 1990, she made her Hollywood debut in the racing film Days of Thunder, opposite Tom Cruise. \
She went on to achieve wide recognition with leading roles in the romantic drama Far and Away (1992), the superhero film Batman Forever (1995), the crime comedy-drama To Die For (1995), for which she won a Golden Globe Award, and the erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut (1999).
She received two consecutive nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing a courtesan in the musical Moulin Rouge! (2001) and the writer Virginia Woolf in the drama film The Hours (2002); she won the award for the latter, and received Golden Globes for both films.
The actor said she is happy to make ‘spontaneous and random’ decisions now, reported Contactmusic.
‘I think maybe I played it a little safe in the past, and went for the work I thought I was meant to do, which spoke to the idea of what and who an actress is supposed to be. But, for the most part, I’ve followed my spirit, which motivates me to go against the grain.
‘I’m completely spontaneous and random in my decisions. Never let it be said that I don’t have diverse taste. I love jumping into the deep end. Why not? That’s my favourite saying, I think it has such potential and choice, why not?’ Kidman told Psychologies magazine.
The actor said life experiences have made her a better performer and she is happy to find her footing as a character actor.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 14, more than 35 years working is quite a number to say out loud. It’s gratifying and comforting because I have a deep well of emotion that only comes with life experience and I can call on that, call on those memories I didn’t have when I was in my 20s.
‘I am a character actor, which was my goal. I wasn’t educated at drama school with the aim of being a movie star,” she said.