Nicole Kidman reveals goofy reason for doing 'Batman Forever' despite wanting 'more' from role

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman recently reminisced about one of her early roles as Dr Chase Meridian in the 1995 superhero movie 'Batman Forever'.

In a L'Officiel USA interview for the September cover story, the actress talked about how people looked at her strangely when she accepted the part in the Joel Schumacher film, which starred Val Kilmer as the caped knight.

Nicole Kidman says she took 'Batman Forever' role so she could 'kiss' Batman

During the Wednesday, August 28 interview, Nicole Kidman — who will next be seen in the A24 movie 'Babygirl' — recounted that she was frequently asked why she took a job on 'Batman Forever', a project she landed 30 years ago.

"Everyone's like, 'Why are you doing that?' I'm like, 'Because I get to kiss Batman!'" exclaimed the 57-year-old actress. 

The Oscar winner continued, "The thing people don't understand is, it's not about the check. A lot of the mainstream big blockbusters that I do are hopefully different."

However, in a 2014 interview, Kidman admitted that although she enjoyed her role as Dr Chase Meridian, Batman's love interest, in the film, she was left wanting more.

She said, "I remember going, 'I wish had more of a role, though.' It’s great being the girl in the Batman movie. But I’m an actor and you go, 'Gosh I want more to do.' So I would still love to do some sort of superhero movie where I get to do the cool stuff."

Kidman eventually returned to the superhero genre with her role as Queen Atlanna in the 2018 film 'Aquaman', as per HuffPost. She also starred in the 2023 sequel 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom'. 

Nicole Kidman wants to try her hand at the hardcore horror genre

Over the years, Nicole Kidman, who began her career with the Australian films 'Bush Christmas' and 'BMX Bandits' in 1983, has ventured into a wide range of genres, including superhero, fantasy, romance, and drama. 

Her role in 'Batman Forever' stands in stark contrast to the dramatic films she acted in nearly her whole early career. 

Kidman, however, holds a fondness for the "hardcore horror" genre and wishes to be part of one, as per People. 

"I’ve not done classic horror yet. Hardcore horror. I’m putting it out there, because I watch hardcore horror. I’m a fan of Ti West!" exclaimed the actress to L'Officiel USA, mentioning the director of Mia Goth's 'X' trilogy.

Although Kidman did not participate in many horror films, she has experimented with thrillers such as 'The Others' (2001) and 'Stoker' (2013).

Although Park Chan-wook's 'Stoker' is still one of her less well-known films, it's a personal favorite of the actress. "[Director] Park Chan-wook, I love him. That monologue — that was the reason I did it," admitted Kidman. 

'Babygirl' has been one of Kidman's toughest roles to date and the role apparently left her "ragged."

In the film, she plays a business executive who begins a romance with an intern (Harris Dickinson) at her company. Antonio Banderas will be seen as her husband in the film. 

Kidman said her time spent working on 'Babygirl' was intensive and very private. She noted, "I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being. I had to go in and go out like, I need to put my protection back on."

Halina Reijn's erotic thriller will have its world premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival on August 30.