Nicole Kidman has recently opened up about her personal struggle with depression during the filming of "The Hours," a role for which she later received the Oscar for Best Actress.
In a candid revelation, Kidman shared that portraying the iconic British writer Virginia Woolf took a toll on her mental health, leading to a profound sense of alienation.
As discussions surrounding mental health gain prominence in today's public discourse, Kidman's revelation adds another layer to the ongoing conversation.
The global pandemic since 2020 has undeniably exacerbated emotional challenges for countless individuals, prompting many public figures, including celebrities, to speak openly about their own battles with depression or other mental health issues.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life, Kidman disclosed the emotional turmoil she experienced while embodying Virginia Woolf, a key figure in 20th-century feminism and literature who tragically took her own life in 1941. Kidman admitted, "I wasn't in my own body," highlighting the dissociation often felt by those grappling with depression.
Reflecting on the intensity of the scenes depicting Woolf's suicide, Kidman shared her thoughts on the character's dangerous state of mind: "I don't know if I ever thought about how dangerous it was for her. I was very involved in it." The actress described a particularly challenging scene where her character walks toward the river with stones in her pocket, symbolizing the weight of her inner struggles.
Kidman expressed gratitude toward the film's director, Stephen Daldry, acknowledging his sensitivity to her emotional state during the challenging scenes. "I think Stephen was so delicate with me because he knew," she revealed, emphasizing the importance of understanding and support in the filmmaking process.
While Kidman did not pinpoint a specific cause for her depression during that period, she alluded to feeling "out of place, outside of my own body." The years surrounding the filming were undoubtedly challenging for the Oscar winner, who had recently divorced her partner of 11 years, Tom Cruise, with whom she shared two children.
These recent revelations on British public radio echo Kidman's earlier interview with The Guardian, where she delved further into her family's support and the persistent melancholy that permeates much of her daily life. Kidman's openness about her mental health journey adds a poignant layer to her illustrious career, reminding us that even the brightest stars may navigate profound struggles behind the scenes.
