London, May 12 — Hollywood icon Tom Cruise has opened up about his decision to recommend his then-wife Nicole Kidman for the lead role in Eyes Wide Shut, praising her as a "great actress" and recalling his initial meeting with the film's legendary director, Stanley Kubrick.
Released in 1999, Eyes Wide Shut is a psychological drama that delves into the intricacies of desire and fidelity. The film follows Cruise’s character, Dr. Bill Harford, who is shaken after his wife, Alice Harford (played by Kidman), confesses to having considered an affair.
In a recent interview with Sight and Sound magazine, Cruise shared the behind-the-scenes story of how the project began. “I flew out to [Kubrick’s] house, and I landed in his backyard. I read the script the day before, and we spent the day talking about it. I knew all of his films,” he recalled.
As their discussions progressed, Cruise proposed Kidman for the role of Alice. “It was basically he and I getting to know each other. And when we were doing that, I suggested Nicole play the role. Because, obviously, she’s a great actress,” he said.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the film, Cruise added, “Whatever it’s going to take, we’re going to do this.”
Cruise, now 62, and Kidman, 57, were married from 1990 to 2001. During their marriage, they adopted two children: Isabella “Bella” Cruise, 32, and Connor Cruise, 30.
While Kidman’s most recent appearance is in the film Babygirl, Cruise is gearing up for the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which hits Indian theatres on May 17.