Nicole Kidman is expressing her appreciation for her Perfect Couple co-stars. During the Sept. 11 episode of the podcast Books, Beach, and Beyond, hosted by author Elin Hilderbrand and Tim Ehrenberg, the 57-year-old actress and producer reflected on her experience working on the hit Netflix series.
The show is based on Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel, and Kidman shared that collaborating with fellow actors Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, and Eve Hewson to bring the story to the screen was a rewarding process.
“I really enjoy being part of an ensemble because you get to see so many characters come to life on set, and it’s fun to watch everyone at work,” Kidman said. “I just told Dakota the other day, ‘You’re amazing at this.’ And Liev, too, but Eve is just a joy to work with… She’s so charming.” She added, “It feels like we’re a theater troupe working together, and that’s what I love most about it.”
Nicole Kidman shares how her role in The Perfect Couple allowed her to explore her witty, comedic side
In The Perfect Couple, Kidman takes on the role of Greer Garrison Winbury, a novelist who is married to Tag Winbury, played by Schreiber. The story follows the couple as they prepare for their son’s wedding on Nantucket, but their plans are disrupted when a body is found, turning the event into a murder mystery.
Kidman, who has portrayed literary characters in the past—such as Celeste Wright in the HBO adaptation of Big Little Lies and Virginia Woolf in the 2002 film The Hours—revealed that playing Greer allowed her to explore her comedic side. “She has this great wit,” Kidman remarked. “She’s funny, and I don’t often get the chance to showcase that side of me, so it was a big draw.”
Kidman mentioned that director Susanne Bier encouraged her to embrace the humor of the role, saying, “Susanne told me, ‘I want you to be funny in this.’ And when it came to Liev, who’s a close friend, I asked, ‘Liev, would you play Tag?’ He brought something unique to the character that worked perfectly on screen, and their marriage is really fun to watch.”
Kidman also revealed her love for reading during the podcast, mentioning that she had recently purchased Judi Dench’s memoir, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent. She shared that she often reads at night, but prefers lighter books before bed.
“I need something light before sleeping, so I’m not too unsettled,” she explained. “But reading helps me relax before I sleep, and if I wake up in the middle of the night, I’ll grab my reading light and start reading again.”
The reading light, a gift from someone close to her, allows her to indulge her love of books without disturbing her husband, country music star Keith Urban. “It’s fantastic because it doesn’t bother Keith,” she joked. “I don’t have to turn on the big light, and it lets me read in peace.”
