Nicole Kidman Cast Harris Dickinson in ‘Babygirl’ After Spotting His Cat During Zoom

Nicole Kidman revealed an unexpected reason for casting Harris Dickinson as her co-star in the upcoming erotic thriller Babygirl—his cat. During a conversation with Zendaya for Variety’s Actors on Actors, Kidman shared how the young actor caught her attention in a Zoom meeting arranged by director Halina Reijn.

Casting Insight

Kidman recounted her first interaction with Dickinson, who plays Samuel, the intern romantically involved with her character Romy. Speaking about the casting process, she said:

“We Zoomed with him, and it just clicked. As soon as I saw his cat walk through, I was like, ‘You’re perfect. You’re really, really good for this.’ And he was just so nice.”

Reijn had suggested Dickinson, known for his role in The Iron Claw, as a strong candidate for the part. The chemistry between the two actors seems to have been cemented in that early virtual meeting.

Kidman’s Love for Cats

Nicole Kidman’s appreciation for cats is no secret. She and her husband, musician Keith Urban, adopted a rescue cat named Louis during the pandemic, adding to their household of two other cats. Over the years, Kidman has publicly celebrated her lifelong love for cats, often sharing fond memories on social media. Interestingly, she was once offered the role of Catwoman in a project that eventually became the 2004 film starring Halle Berry.

Antonio Banderas Joins the Cast

In addition to Dickinson, Antonio Banderas stars in the film as Romy’s husband. Kidman praised Banderas for his supportive attitude during production:

“[He] came in and said, ‘I wanna support you women, I wanna give to you, and I want you to create something that I feel is really important.’ And to have those two men going, ‘We’re here with you,’ they’re so — they’re very generous. Beautifully generous actors.”

The dynamic between the cast members, combined with their shared creative vision, played a vital role in shaping the movie.

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Dickinson’s Perspective

Harris Dickinson also opened up about working alongside Kidman, describing her as a “provocative, thoughtful, intelligent artist.” He reflected on the challenges of portraying his character, Samuel, who navigates an intricate power dynamic with Romy.

“I had to try and hold my own because, given Samuel’s dynamic, I couldn’t really go in and be a kid quaking in my boots. I had to own it a bit, be myself and try and get past the mystique of Nicole.”

Dickinson also commented on how fans have latched onto one of his character’s provocative lines in the film:

“Someone came up to me off the street and said, ‘Oh, can you say, ‘Good girl?’ I said, ‘No, come on, man. Don’t ask me to say that.’ People need to look past the eroticism of it. It’s a very nuanced film. It’s so much about liberation and the consequences of too much constraint.”

Creative Process

Kidman emphasized the importance of building genuine connections with collaborators, explaining how trust enhances creative output.

“So much of it is, ‘We’re having such good conversations anyway, like what we’d be having around a dinner table talking or at a party.’ When I really know you, the intimacy and the ability to kinda share some of your deepest, darkest secrets — I’m sort of addicted to that.”

Release Date

Babygirl is set to hit theaters on December 25, 2024, providing audiences with a compelling blend of romance, power dynamics, and personal liberation.

For more updates on Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and Babygirl, stay tuned to Vviptimes.