The 4 Best TV Series Starring Nicole Kidman
To say that Nicole Kidman is one of the most talented actors in the world would not be an understatement. After mastering her craft in several Australian projects, Kidman’s big Hollywood break came when she played Dr. Claire Lewicki opposite Tom Cruise in the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Kidman went on to create a storied career with roles in movies across almost every genre, such as Batman Forever, Eyes Wide Shut, and The Others.
Kidman earned several accolades for her work, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Primetime Emmys, and six Golden Globes. However, in the last decade, the actress decided to lend her skills to streaming and network shows, starring in both widely popular and low-key projects. Kidman brings something different to each role she plays – be it an abused wife, a woman trying to prove her husband’s innocence, the founder of a health-and-wellness resort, or one-half of the perfect couple.
Big Little Lies (2017)
Big Little Lies begins in the aftermath of a murder, though the identity of the victim is unknown to the viewers. The series then rewinds to the weeks leading up to the incident, focusing on Celeste (Kidman), Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Renata (Laura Dern), and Bonnie (Zoe Kravitz). While their lives in the picturesque town of Monterey seem pretty perfect, beneath the surface of their day-to-day activities, each woman is carrying a heavy burden.
Madeline is dealing with a distant daughter and getting used to the idea of her ex-husband getting remarried to Bonnie. Celeste holds up a façade of perfection for her twin boys while living with an abusive husband and career woman Renata is dealing with her daughter being bullied at school. When Jane (Shailene Woodley) moves to town with her young son Ziggy, the women are eventually brought closer together in a shocking moment that will change their lives forever.
The Undoing (2020)
Kidman is never afraid to tackle complex stories, and The Undoing is one of those. The series follows Grace Fraser (Kidman), who lives in Manhattan with her husband Jonathan (Hugh Grant) and their young son Henry (Noah Jupe). Their happy family life is disrupted when Grace runs into a strange woman named Elena (Matilda De Angelis) at various public events over several days. With every encounter, she becomes more and more unsettled.
During their last meeting at a school auction, Grace finds Elena crying in a bathroom and asks if she can help. But Elena just thanks her for showing kindness and leaves. The next day, Elena is found dead, and the police believe that Jonathan is the most likely suspect. Grace refuses to believe that her husband is involved. But when she tries to contact him, he is nowhere to be found. Reeling from the chaos, Grace is plagued by paranoid visions of Elena and the night she was killed.
Nine Perfect Strangers (2021)
Nine Perfect Strangers takes place in a high-end wellness resort created by Masha Dmitrichenko (Kidman) called Tranquillum House. The story begins with the arrival of nine very different guests, who are each dealing with their own trauma and emotional baggage. Each person at the resort intends to heal from or escape their troubles for a few days. However, they are unaware that Masha’s wellness methods are anything like the run-of-the-mill holistic stuff they were expecting.
To make matters worse, some of the guests develop an immediate dislike for each other. Struggling romance novelist Frances Welty (Melissa McCarthy) butts heads with Tony Hogburn (Bobby Cannavale), a former professional athlete dealing with addiction and anger issues. Jessica and Ben Chandler are at odds with each other after winning the lottery. These folks, along with the other guests, eventually become uneasy with Masha and her methods, which are strange and may even be slightly illegal.
The Perfect Couple (2024)
Kidman’s most recent series, The Perfect Couple, follows the wealthy Winbury family at their home in Nantucket. The story begins with Greer (Kidman) and her husband Tag (Liev Schreiber) preparing for their son Benji (Billy Howle) to marry Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson). With all their friends and family in attendance, the couple throws an opulent dinner party the night before the big day. But the festivities come to a standstill when Amelia finds her best friend Merritt (Meghann Fahy) dead on the nearby beach.
Although Merritt’s death seems like an accident at first, Nikki Henry (Donna Lynne Champlin), a detective from the Massachusetts State Police, suspects foul play and begins to investigate the tragedy further. As each member of the Winbury family is brought in for questioning, the illusion of Greer and Tag’s life as the perfect couple is slowly stripped apart, while Benji and Amelia realize that they might not be right for each other after all.