Nicole Kidman Reveals Acting Regrets That Nearly Derailed Her Rise to Stardom

Nicole Kidman reflects on her early acting regrets as she opens up about her career.

The American-Australian actress, who previously received the AFI Life Achievement Award, admitted she deeply regrets turning down the opportunity to work with famed director Jane Campion before she became a celebrity.

In an exclusive interview with W Magazine, Kidman revealed: “Did (her weekend drama school) perform the Tennessee Williams play? Sweet bird of youth. I was playing the princess (an older, once-famous actor involved with a young gigolo), and I didn’t understand what the text itself meant.

She added: “The director Jane Campion came and sat in the back of this little theater and then cast me in one of her student films. But I didn’t do it – I didn’t want to wearing a shower cap in the film and not being pretty… (It’s a) huge regret!

Although she turned down the offer early in her career, the 57-year-old later collaborated with the director on the 1996 film. The portrait of a lady as well as the 2017 miniseries At the top of the lake: China Girl.

It was after their powerful collaboration that The piano the filmmaker won the Oscar for best director in 2022 for his masterpiece The power of the dog.