Kidman attracted by Kelly's 'humanity'
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 16, 2014
Nicole Kidman, who received the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival opening, attended the China premiere of "Grace of Monaco" yesterday.
 |
|
Nicole Kidman attends a press conference for her movie "Grace of Monaco" on June 15, 2014, in Shanghai. |
The biopic, depicting Kidman as Grace Kelly in the middle of a dispute between Monaco and France in 1962, opens in Chinese cinemas on June 20.
Kidman said in her preparation for the role she tried to see the person beyond the star of movies such as Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" and "Dial M For Murder."
"I studied her screen persona, but it is her vulnerability and humanity that I most related to," the Hollywood superstar explained. "She is incredibly fragile and strong at the same time — a dichotomy."
Kelly's transition from a Hollywood sweetheart to a princess — "the extraordinary journey," as Kidman put it — was a major reason behind the Australian actress taking the role.
"The most challenging thing for me was to move, sound and look like her," she said.
"It's like when I played Virginia Woolf (in "The Hours"), part of my challenge is to look for things that are far out of reach. I like pushing myself out of the comfort zone, to explore and discover new territory because I'm still very curious."
She noted that the film starts when Kelly is offered the title role in "Marnie" by Hitchcock, but cannot take it as she now has a family and is a princess.
"I feel strongly about this desire to have a family and also do something good in the world," said Kidman.
"This struggle to balance family and work is still relevant to so many women, including Chinese women here."
Kidman revealed how she "felt the loneliest" when she won an Academy Award for 2002's "The Hours."
"I had so much in my creative life and so little in life," she recalled. "It just hit me that I need to go and get a life."
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)