Harris Dickinson Speaks Out on Bold, ‘Embarrassing’ Scenes with Much-Older Nicole Kidman in ‘Babygirl,’ Sparking a Stir

Hollywood star Harris Dickinson spoke with Variety‘s Marc Malkin on Friday, October 18, about how he and fellow industry icon Nicole Kidman filmed intimate scenes for the erotic thriller “Babygirl.” Despite revealing that they had set parameters, netizens, who have also expressed concern for how Kidman’s husband may have been affected by the scenes, reacted strongly.

In “Babygirl,” which is directed by Halina Reijn, Kidman takes on the role of a tech company CEO who embarks on a steamy, controversial affair with her much younger intern, who is played by Dickinson.

The film’s plot dives into the tangled dynamics of their relationship, exploring themes of power, vulnerability, and desire, which set the stage for some of the film’s most provocative scenes.

During his discussion with Variety, Dickinson noted that the presence of intimacy coordinator Lizzie Talbot was crucial in building the trust necessary to make each scene impactful without breaking the flow.

“We’d have a discussion with the intimacy coordinator and then Nicole and I kind of did our own thing with it once we set the parameters of what we were both comfortable with,” disclosed the actor.

Talbot’s approach allowed the duo to fully inhabit their roles while maintaining personal boundaries, ensuring that each scene was as authentic as it was respectful. “They’re facilitating that and doing it very delicately without interrupting the actual scene,” explained Dickinson.

One scene that particularly tested his comfort was a moment where he dances alone to George Michael’s “Father Figure.” Reflecting on that part, Dickinson admitted, “Halina put the song and said, ‘Just dance.’ So I just had a little groove. Maybe I had a little whiskey before. But it was embarrassing.”

Like Dickinson, Kidman shared her own take on the movie’s raw and exposed nature. She described how the experience of filming was both challenging and revealing, and emphasized the importance of creating a “safe space” with Reijn.

Speaking on the challenges of filming, the actress remarked, “Actually doing it justice and trying to be open and raw and available each day in every which way to explore.”

Regarding how it felt to work alongside Kidman, Dickinson had nothing but good things to say about their collaboration. “She sets the tone on set, and she makes it so easy to be vulnerable and to be funny, because she is so daring,” divulged the “Beach Rats” actor.

He also called Kidman “the most comforting, warm performer to work across from,” and noted her “innate sense of playfulness.”

Upon reading what Dickinson had to say, social media users were quick to react to his comments, and their opinions were anything but unanimous. Some were openly critical, questioning Kidman’s age and the appropriateness of the steamy scenes.

“Very horrible thing to say. I’m sorry I don’t think this woman is pretty at all. Start acting your age,” asserted a Facebooker.

Another user echoed this sentiment, “She’s 57 [sic] Time to play granny roles lolol.” Others took issue with Dickinson and Kidman’s openness about the scenes, with one person writing, “Is this really necessary to tell the world? Grow up.”

“Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman filmed kinky scenes? That’s unexpected!” expressed someone else in surprise. Another spectator shared, “Sorry she’s an awesome actress but id [sic] like to see a younger One with Harris 🤷🏻‍♀️.”

On the other hand, some fans defended Nicole Kidman and Dickinson and applauded them for their work in the movie. These people saw nothing unusual about the storyline or the casting choice.

“It’s all part of life in the real world. So what’s the problem? They are both adults,” remarked a fan, while another praised Dickinson’s respectful approach, “What a gentleman.”

“Love this! The ageism thing is a bore; time to sway from age bias. If two people are fire and have fun, power to them🔥,” added someone else. Another defender penned, “Why not lol.”

The conversation around the significant age gap between Kidman and Dickinson in “Babygirl” isn’t new, as it began back in August (2024) when early reports of their on-screen chemistry first surfaced.

A sneak peek of the scene that shows Kidman and Dickinson in a close, intimate moment in a pool, was what sparked a hot debate online. One protective fan humorously exclaimed, “GET MY BOYFRIEND AWAY FROM THAT OLD WOMAN!”

Others seemed to pick up on a pattern in Kidman’s recent roles, with one person cheekily noting, “I’m starting to see a trend in Kidman’s movies—affairs with younger men.” This same fan added a lighthearted jab, “I hope Keith Urban is still cool with it.”

Several other comments hinted at what might be Hollywood’s newest trend — older women being paired with younger men. “Old women with young guys is the latest trend in Hollywood,” observed a netizen.

Another took it a step further, suggesting that these roles make “older lady audiences feel good about themselves and bring young guys’ cougar fantasies to life.”

Some reactions were a bit more pointed, with one person noting, “It’s pretty interesting that she still plays roles like that at almost 60[sic].” Another commenter even speculated about Kidman’s home life, “Maybe Keith Urban is into it?”

However, some fans fully embraced the heat, with one exclaiming, “Omg Steamy!!!!” Another person gushed, “I love Nicole too much! Best actress out there!” Yet, this same person added a bit of a shady remark, “But the fact that she is paired with all young guys lately is a bit cringey! [sic]🙃” Another suggested, “Oscar for Nicole.”

There were also reminders of her last daring role, as someone pleaded, “Please no awkward scenes like the ones with Zac Efron!!” which referred to Kidman’s previous rom-com, “A Family Affair” that premiered in June (2024).

In a recent interview, Kidman, 57, reflected on her role in “Babygirl,” describing it as more exposed than any project she has previously worked on. “I’ve made some films that are pretty exposing, but not like this,” highlighted the actress.

Even though Kidman was deeply engaged in the work, she noted that the process was demanding. She said it left her feeling emotionally drained and at times overwhelmed.

Weeks after her candid reflections about the film, Kidman shared more words about “Babygirl.” She revealed that she was “so turned on” by her role in the movie, which prompted fans to question how her husband might feel about it, with some suggesting her comments were disrespectful to him.

Kidman addressed what it felt like to star in the movie, which involves bold and erotic scenes like Dickinson’s character telling Kidman to get on her hands and knees, drink milk from a saucer, and gag on his tie.

She divulged, “There was an enormous amount of sharing and trust and then frustration. It’s like, don’t touch me. There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more [sic]. Don’t come near me. I hate doing this.'”

The actress, whose on-screen husband Jacob is played by famous actor Antonio Banderas, shared that the constant intensity of the role, including faking orgasms left her feeling overwhelmed. She also dubbed the experience as consuming.

Eventually, it felt as though she had reached a point of emotional burnout, leaving her indifferent to future physical interactions.

Kidman also discussed her experience exploring kink in a Q&A at the London West Hollywood in Los Angeles on October 18 (2024).

The “Big Little Lies” star acknowledged the mutual understanding that helped navigate the intense scenes. All these ensured Kidman and Dickson created a sense of connection and confidence during filming.

Although the actress was open and vulnerable about her experience, fans were quick to criticize her, saying her comments showed a lack of respect toward her husband, Keith Urban.

One person sarcastically commented, “This exactly what your husband and children need to read on the social media [sic] 🙄.”

Keeping the same tone of sarcasm, another user added, “I’m sure Keith loves hearing that,” while someone else warned, “Uh oh, Keith. Watch out. The line was crossed, forgetting it’s drama play…not real foreplay.”

Some people expressed concern for Urban, “Keith deserves better,” and another remarked, “Bet her husband is thrilled to read this. SMH Hollywood is sick.”

Netizens continued to share their fears, “I think it disrespects her husband, imo [sic],” while another speculated, “Disrespectful to her husband. I’m sure Keith Urban will start looking around for someone else now soon. 🙄”

One person questioned why filming romance scenes was that hard, “Don’t get why it has to be that extreme. Wonder how Keith will feel watching it even though filming is not as it seems on film.” The absurdity of the situation was a recurring theme, with a person expressing, “Awkward for Keith Urban🤣🤣🤣.”

Others took a more critical stance, with one person declaring, “No one wants to see an old lady naked.” Some users even questioned her age appropriateness, “Isn’t she too old for this??”

One observer reflected on her previous experiences, “She’s married with kids. Time to move on to more family-friendly movies. Didn’t she say a while back that she hated making ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ because of something similar?”

Another person also linked the role to her past, commenting, “She needs to avoid these kinds of movies. This scenario contributed to her divorce from Tom Cruise.”

Others accused her of chasing relevance, “This is nothing but an attempt to remain relevant while her witheringly looks disappear before her eyes.” A spectator expressed disappointment in her career choices, “Sad that she is lowering herself to this point. She’s a better actress than this!!”

Despite facing criticism, Kidman expressed her long-standing desire as an actor to continually seek new experiences and challenges. She reflected on how this particular role allowed her to venture into uncharted territory, relying on the trust she built with her co-stars.

She also trusted herself to venture into an established genre to push boundaries, particularly with a female lead character driving the narrative.

The actress also mentioned, “You have your director at the helm going, ‘I will protect you. Nothing that’s going to be in the film will be anything that you are not comfortable with. You are going to be okay.'”

Additionally, Kidman praised Reijn for her ability to create a sacred environment for actors. She appreciated how the director encouraged experimentation and self-expression while ensuring that the actors always felt protected.

Even so, Kidman acknowledged that there were moments when she felt apprehensive about certain scenes, expressing that it was natural to feel terrified.

However, she emphasized that whenever they faced difficulties with a scene, the priority was always comfort over time constraints, allowing for pauses to regroup and ensure everyone was on the same page.