Nicole Kidman revealed on the “Radio Times Podcast” (via Business Insider) that she was once told she would never have a career in Hollywood because of her height. Long before she became a star in the U.S. and an Oscar winner for “The Hours,” Kidman was an aspiring actor in Australia and said her height was often challenged during auditions as a teen.
“I was told, ‘You won’t have a career. You’re too tall,'” Kidman said.
At one open audition for a role in “Annie,” Kidman remembered actors were being measured for their height at the door. Performers who were too tall were being instantly rejected, so she had to fight her way into the casting room.
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“I had to talk my way through the door because they were measuring you before you went in. I was mortified,” she said, adding that she started lying by telling people she’s “5 foot 10 ½ inches” when she was “really 5 foot 11 inches.”
“I was teased. I was called Storky,” Kidman said. “It will bother me when I’m acting and I want to be small — but then there are times when I appreciate it when it’s related to what I’m doing and I go, ‘OK, I can use this now.’ Hey, I’m incredibly grateful to be healthy and walking around. Having said that, I’ve had knee issues and all sorts of things — partly because of my height.”
The bullying she faced due to her height has also led to valuable lessons she’s imparted on her daughters. She explained, “What I tell my daughters is that none of it matters. What matters is how you allow other people to either say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to you, and whether you accept that. Inner resilience as a human being, that’s the superpower, really.”
Kidman most recently reprised her role of Aquaman’s mother Queen Atlanna in the Warner Bros. sequel “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” She’ll next appear in Prime Video’s limited series “Expats,” which she also executive produced. The series hails from “The Farewell” director Lulu Wang and debuts Jan. 26 on the streamer.
