Nicole Kidman remains one of the most fearless movie stars, amassing a filmography spanning decades and myriad genres. She’s unafraid of being weird or taking on tricky subject matter, tackling each role with arms wide open and without ego. Not to mention her steadfast commitment to working with a female director every eighteen months has culminated in her working with twenty-seven women behind the camera in just eight years. To put it simply, she is a living legend.

In honor of the icon turning fifty-eight this week (and her being my favorite working actress), I counted down Nicole Kidman’s top ten performances.

10. The Hours (2002)

The role that won Kidman an Oscar, and rightfully so. While the film is split between three different women, Kidman’s presence is pervasive throughout. She embodies the late Virginia Woolf with an intricate blend of quiet dignity and melancholy that constantly battles beneath the surface.

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9. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Yorgos Lanthimos’ unsettling family drama is quite odd to describe on paper. But it’s also the risky filmmaking that Kidman gravitates toward with voracious energy. She perfectly matches Lanthimos’ typical tone as we watch this family come undone, and, as absurd as the tone and story are, she makes you feel for this woman at the center of this horrendous situation.

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8. Paddington (2014)

Campy Kidman is the best Kidman. She plays Millicent Clyde, a taxidermist set on finding Paddington and adding him to her expansive collection, which sounds ridiculous on paper. But Kidman goes all in, approaching Millicent with the same level of commitment as with every other role. As a result, we get a deliciously evil entry into Kidman’s extensive canon that will have you giggling and gasping. Not to mention, she’s also sporting one of the most lethal bobs in film history.

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7. The Others (2001)

Atmospheric and unsettling, Kidman feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to erupt. Grace’s manic attempts to keep her children safe and well are coated with a mixture of delusion and genuine love. Misguided as she may be, you cannot help but root for Grace as the life she’s built for herself is uprooted in the most sinister way. Kidman times each chip meticulously, allowing for Grace’s undoing to culminate in something award-worthy. 

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6. Babygirl (2024)

Kidman is at her bravest and most uninhibited. Romy, as a character, is quite a juggling act for Kidman—she’s constantly bouncing between her pleasure and shame as she’s discovering these new parts of herself that have been packaged to her as dark and unconventional. Romy’s awakening simultaneously feels suffocating and like a breath of air after being trapped underwater. My full review for The Rolling Tape can be read here.

5. The Northman (2022)

Kidman isn’t on screen much during Robert Eggers’ Viking epic, but her character’s presence seeps into the entirety of the runtime.  Queen Gudrún’s frigid exterior melts away to reveal something far more intricate and sinister as the film progresses, culminating in a monologue that would make an Oscar clip for the ages. The reveal that Gudrún is in on the inciting incident is shocking; however, on repeat viewings, it’s clear Kidman laid a small, detailed trail leading to this very moment. It’s devastating and delicious all at once, as only Kidman can do. 

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4. Stoker (2013)

Similar to her roles in Paddington and The Northman, Kidman is deliciously evil in Park Chan-wook’s criminally underrated psychological thriller. Evie Stoker, though, is uniquely broken as she desperately tries to fill her life with a love she’s missing. Kidman wears her cracks like a ball gown and finds a way to make them magnetic, pulling audiences to the edge of their seats with stunning ferocity. 

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3. Dogville (2003)

Kidman’s Grace is put through the ringer in Lars von Trier’s harrowing Dogville. But she never feels reduced to her trauma, thanks to Kidman’s careful craftsmanship of the character. The subtle physicality of the role puts Grace at odds with this insular town and its people, paving the way for the conflict to unfold. Hot off her Oscar win, Kidman shines as a force of nature amid an ensemble stacked with heavy hitters.

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2. To Die For (1995)

Suzanne Stone is unhinged perfection in this pitch black comedy from Gus Van Sant, and Kidman eats every moment up. What makes Suzanne work so brilliantly is that Kidman doesn’t look down on her; rather, she plays her honestly, despite how absolutely absurd this woman is. Oftentimes with satire, people know the joke and try to play up the joke. But, because of Kidman’s sincerity, the comedy lands much more effectively. As funny as she is, though, there is a darkness bubbling behind her, yes, that puts the audience on edge as only Kidman can.

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1. Birth (2004)

An uncomfortable but effective portrayal of navigating grief that sees Kidman steering us into murky waters with utmost confidence. There is one scene in particular where Kidman portrays so much without a single line of dialogue. It’s hypnotic and heartbreaking as she fills the silence with her mere presence. While we may find Anna frustrating as she allows herself to believe delusions, Kidman handles her with care and makes sure we still understand her desire to cling to a piece of her old life.

Image Courtesy of New Line Cinema via Bright Wall/Dark Room

List Courtesy of Adam Patla

Feature Image Courtesy of Dimitrios Kambouris | Getty Images via Yahoo!