My working experience with Nicole

I’ve been reading this thread occasionally now but never posted anything. Yesterday, I found on my computer some deleted scenes I kept of a film I did with Nicole, and I thought maybe some of you would be interested if I shared my experience.

I was still a film student when, in 2012, I was hired as an intern on a film called Grace of Monaco. Not necessary to say I was beyond excited. Nicole Kidman has been my favorite actress since I’ve seen The Others when I was 12. The first time I saw her was during the screen test we did just before the shooting. I will always remember her walking on a set. It was like seing an angel. She was just so beautiful. I could not believe she was real. We all had our eyes on her.

I did several films since Grace and what I can say is that Nicole Kidman is not only the most professional, but the kindest person I’ve ever met on a movie set. She never behaved like a movie star. She was never late and always knew her lines by heart (Most actors and/or stars don’t). Nicole made it clear from the very beginning that she was on the same level than everyone else. The only times she spent in her dressing room were when she had a costume change. One day, she spent three hours sitting behind her desk, waiting for the director to tell the crew what he wanted to do. She never complained. When we shoot the final speech, we did dozen takes of it and Nicole made no mistakes. Not one single mistake.

We were constantly blown away by her professionalism, as well as her kindness and her generosity. The week before Christmas, she told us we were going to have some surprises. The first day, she brought with her two masseuse and, between takes, we would go for a 10-15 min massage. The second day, she threw us a wonderful party. The third day, she gave everyone big Belgium chocolate boxes with an handwritten note (she wrote one for every single member of the crew!). Her personal staff were given Prada handbag, etc… Most stars don’t pay themselves. Nicole did.

I was able to talk with her on several occasions and now I dream to work on a film with her again. She was beyond everything I could expect of her. If one word could define her, I would say it is "class". Pure class.

PS —Some of you wondered on another thread why Nicole had turned down Elle. I had the chance to work on this movie, so I can tell you what I know. She was interested but felt uneasy with some elements of the script (the character’s reaction to the rape). Furthermore, she met Paul Verhoeven after the the Cannes screening of Grace, which was honestly not a good moment for her at all. After her, Julianne Moore was offered the part and agreed to do it but backed out at the last moment. I think Nicole would have been absolutely perfect but, by turning down this role, she gave me my greatest working experience (not to mention Isabelle’s), so I guess I have to thank her.