JAKE CHESSUM/TRUNK ARCHIEVE.
Cover story
At 51 NicoleKidmanis ridinghighprofessionallyandpersonally.InaWeekly
exclusiveJulietRiedentalkstotheAussieiconabouttheturningpointsin
herlifeandcareerandasksherclosestfriendswhatmakesNicoletick.
NICOLE
KIDMAN
A
skNicoleKidman’sfriends
todescribeherin justthree
wordsanda fascinating
picturestartstobuild.
She’s“mischievous,curious
andcompassionate.Funnyashell,
brave,smartandintenselyloyal”.
She’s“daring,dedicated,original,
intelligentanda courageousrisk-
taker”. She’s“honest,lovingand
quirky...charming,radiant,playful”.
She“lovestoparty”and,jokesthe
diminutiveNaomiWatts,she’s“tall!”
It’sanimpressivewordstormof
epithetsthatoffersa tellingglimpseof
therealNicole;theintense,passionate
andfun-lovingwomanbehindthe
red-carpet glamour and the insanebackgroundbabbleoffrustratingly
inaccuratetabloidgossip.
MostofthoseI spoketoareAussies
whohaveknownNicolesincethe
earlydaysthroughthebestandworst
oftimes:actorsRussellCrowe,Naomi
Watts,Deborra-leeFurnessandHugh
Jackman;filmmakersJaneCampion,
BazLuhrmannandCatherineMartin,
andwriterKathyLette.Andthen
there’sinternationalfriendswho
Nicolehasworkedwithalongthe
wayandstayedclosetolikeBritish
directorStephenDaldry,her“work
husband”USproducerPerSaari, and
herco-starandcollaboratorinBig
LittleLiesReeseWitherspoon.
What’s conspicuous is that everyoneis eagertotalkaboutNicoleandall
havetheirownspecialmomentsto
impart– whichwe’llcometolater.
WhenI askNicoleif sherecognises
herselfin here,there’sa sharpintake
ofbreath.“Ihopeso.They’refantastic
words... I trytolivethatway.”
In anindustryknownforits
fickleness,friendshiphasbeena
crucialtouchstonetoNicoleKidman,
soit’snowonderthisinteresting
groupknowhersowell.Thesearethe
peoplesheturnstowhenshelongsto
talk,whenshethrowsherselfinto
wildcelebrationandwhensheneeds
tocry.“Itendtohavefriendsin my
lifefromsolong[ago].They’reso
much a part of the fabric of who→loving,
Brave,
smart,
funny,
mischievous,
curious,
quirky...
honest,