Oscar Actors: Kidman, Nicole–Honoree of AFI Lifetime Achievement Award

The actress reflects on how the honor represents a career and life well-traveled.

The list of honorees that have come before me. I’m floored, actually, because there are so few, and there are no Australians. I was overwhelmed by it.

Sitting through clips of your work?

I’m not someone to look backward. I always look forward. This has forced me to look back, which has been quite lovely. What’s really apparent to me is that I’ve traveled the world because I’ve worked with directors from pretty much every country. I’ve traveled to so many different places around the world making films and have worked with a huge number of auteurs — Greek, Korean, English, Australian, American, Danish. To be honored by the American Film Institute is such a massive honor for me because I was born in America; I had Australian parents, which is why I hold dual citizenship. I always felt that I was going to come to America and make films in Hollywood. But what I actually wanted was to make films everywhere. I wanted to see the world.

What makes a good collaborator?

Passion. You’re not going to get anywhere without unbridled passion, and probably an obsession. You need a strong will to be able to get any film made. So many times, it’s against all odds. And I’ve worked in all formats in terms of the lowest, lowest budget and massive budget, which I wanted to do as well. I love being able to put my foot in all those worlds.

A favorite Nicole Kidman movie 

Project that surprised you by how audience reaction

There are always surprises. I have people come up to me about all different films, and the things that reach the most number of people aren’t necessarily the ones that get the most passionate response from people. Obviously there have been massive hits, and you go, “Well, that worked!” But it’s the ones that find their way to people. I am amazed people even know who I am. My kids say to me, “You can’t go anywhere that you’re not known.” That’s always what surprises me.

I made Dogville after Moulin Rouge! I went from lavish extremes to … I’d come from sequins and trapezes, top hats, hundreds of people singing and dancing. And suddenly I was in Sweden for Dogville, completely in the dark. But then I went to Spain and made The Others with Alejandro Amenábar, who didn’t speak English. I even worked here in Nashville on Stoker with director Park Chan-wook, who also doesn’t speak English. I crave those extremes, those emotions. I’ve definitely had an extreme life!