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Nicole Kidman is literally the epitome of grace and talent, and she has always stood tall. With her statuesque frame and mesmerizing screen presence, she has undoubtedly conquered Hollywood, delivering powerhouse performances that have blown our minds away.
But believe it or not, there was a time when her fabulous height was more of a Hollywood hurdle than a standout feature. Yes, the very trait that makes her iconic today once had directors scratching their heads and saying, ‘Next’. And honestly, how could one of the most bankable stars in the world ever be considered as “too much” of anything?
As a young actress, Kidman’s impressive 5’11 stature often worked against her. And the casting directors were apparently wary of pairing her with shorter male co-stars, deemed her “too tall” for many leading lady roles. Seriously, imagine being turned down not because you lacked talent but because your height was a scene-stealer.
However, Kidman refused to let her superficial standards stunt her ambitions. Eventually, she embraced her height as part of her unique charm, proving that her talent towers over casting biases. Fast-forward to today, she’s living proof that sometimes what others see as a limitation can become your greatest strength. Hollywood may have tried to box her in, but Nicole Kidman? She broke the mold.
Nicole Kidman lost a role in Annie because of her height
Hollywood’s golden goddess,Nicole Kidman, might now slay on red carpets with towering confidence and obviously, towering heels, but her height wasn’t always her best friend. In fact, it once crushed her childhood dream of starring inAnnie.Yes, then a 5 ft 4-inch Kidman at the tender age walked into the audition forAnnie,where the cutoff height was 5 ft 2 inch. She now stands at a staggering 5ft 11 inches.
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Despite standing two inches taller than the limit, our future Oscar winner talked her way into the room and even belted out four lines of a chorus. Kidman shared withRadio Times Podcast,
I didn’t get the part. I didn’t even get a call back – but at least I got to sing four lines of a chorus.
Not only this but early in her career, Kidman had to literally shrink herself to get work. Yes, she shaved off half an inch on her resume to pretend she was 5 ft 10½ inches. She admitted stating,
I was told, ‘You won’t have a career. You’re too tall’. People would say, ‘How’s the air up there?’ Now, I get, ‘You’re so much taller than I thought’, or men grappling with how high my heels should be. Whenever I go on the red carpet, I get sent shoes that are always so high. I’m like, ‘Do they have a kitten heel? I’m going to be the tallest person – a giraffe!’
But Kidman wasn’t about to let a measuring tape dictate her destiny. She turned that “too tall” narrative into a strength and has since ruled Hollywood’s highest pedestals (heels optional).
And these days, she preaches resilience to her daughters, Sunday and Faith, telling them,
What matters is how you allow other people to either say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to you, and whether you accept that. Inner resilience as a human being, that’s the superpower really.
Amen, Kidman. Giraffes are majestic, after all.
Nicole Kidman’s teenage struggle with height insecurities
Did you know Nicole Kidman was already 5 feet 10 inches at the age of 13? Yes, it definitely sounds like a model’s dream, but for teenage Kidman, it was an awkward reality. TheMoulin Rougestar opened up about facing childhood insecurities and shared withGlamour U.K.,
I was a teenager who wouldn’t conform, but I had a lot of fears and insecurities because I was tall. I was 5ft10in’ by the time I was 13 years old.
But leave it to Kidman to turn her height into a statement, even as a teenager. While most girls donned puffy tulle and frilly skirts for prom, she went fullGreat Gatsbyglam in a 1920s black-and-white beaded flapper dress she found in a vintage shop. Conformity? Never heard of her.
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She explained that the dress perfectly matched her rebellious, nonconformist vibe, classic yet bold, just like the future Hollywood icon we now know. And in true teen fashion, Kidman confessed to getting “a little drunk” that night. Relatable? Totally.
Seeing her today, that same girl who once felt awkward in her skin is now a bona fide Oscar-winning superstar, towering over her competition in every way that matters.
If there’s one takeaway from Kidman’s journey, it’s that standing tall, literally and metaphorically, is always the right choice. After all, why fit in when you were born to stand out?
Nicole Kidman almost retired 16 years ago
Surprisingly, Nicole Kidman almost hung up her acting hat back in 2008, trading red carpets for farm life in Nashville. After giving birth to her daughter Sunday, theBig Little Liesstar was ready to call it quits. She confessed toCBS News,
When I get birth to [Sunday Kidman-Urban], I was like, ‘Well, I think I’m pretty much done now.
While she was ready to go full mom-mode, raising Sunday alongside her two older kids from her previous marriage to Tom Cruise, entered the voice of wisdom, Kidman’s mom.
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Her mother who was from a generation that had fewer opportunities, wasn’t ready to let her daughter completely bow out of a career she had worked so hard to build. Kidman explained,
We were living on a farm, and that’s when my mother said, ‘I wouldn’t give up completely. Keep a finger sort of in it.’ And I’m like, ‘No, no. I’m done now. I’m done.’ She’s going, ‘Just listen to me. Keep moving forward. Not saying that you have to do it to the level you’ve been doing it, but I wouldn’t give it up completely.’
Turns out, three years later, Kidman was back in Hollywood’s spotlight, earning her third Oscar nomination forRabbit Hole.Talk about a comeback. Since then, she’s picked up two more nominations forLionandBeing the Ricardos,proving her mom’s advice was pure gold.
Reflecting on the present day, Kidman is still one of the most versatile actors around, collecting accolades left and right. Her mom’s passing in 2023 was bittersweet, as the news arrived while she was busy winning the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival forBabygirl.
Samridhi Goel
Content Writer
Articles Published :376
Samridhi breathes HOLLYWOOD. A seasoned professional content writer boasting three years of experience. Her expertise shines in the realm of entertainment, where she skillfully craft narratives that breathe life into movies, music, and pop culture. She has completed her Masters in Commerce but her obsession with Hollywood lead her to curate content for the same.
