Nicole Kidman is often considered one of the best actresses of her generation since breaking into the mainstream with ’90s classics like Days of thunder, Batman foreverand To die for.
In 2002, the now 56-year-old star got her first chance at praise when she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for Moulin Rougeand only the following year he won for Hours.
However, while much of the discourse surrounding her nomination and eventual victory focused on her talent, much of it focused on one major transformation—the nose.
VIDEO: Oscar-nominated Nicole Kidman’s latest transformation for “Being Ricardo”
Costume designer Ann Roth decided to give Nicole a prosthetic nose not only to transform her into the English writer Virginia Woolf for Stephen Daldry’s 2002 film, but also to perform a sort of deglamming.
At the time, the process of “deglamming” the traditionally beautiful actress was a major trend permeating the Hollywood machine and the Oscar race, from Charlize Theron to Monster in Hilary Swank Boys don’t cry.
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In a June interview with The New York Times, Ann said of the prosthetic part: “I did her nose with a nose machine in England, and it took them hours every morning to get the damn thing on.”
© Alamy. It all started with Nicole’s prosthetic nose in the 2002 movie “The Hours.”
The decision to change her appearance in a way that was seen as “unnatural” was met with criticism behind the scenes, with Michael Cunningham, author of the novel on which the film is based, telling Vanity Fair: “Almost everyone was nervous about the nose – the idea of sabotaging Nicole’s beauties.”
One of his biggest critics was disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, who helped finance the film through Miramax. Oscar-winning costume designer Ann said for times that she recalled Harvey saying, “I paid a million dollars for that girl, and nobody knows who she is.”
© Getty Images The transformation was intended to make her more like the acclaimed English author Virginia Woolf
When the film was first released, critics and audiences were also divided over the choice of prosthetics. In a review for TIME, Richard Schickel wrote of the film: “I’m watching Hoursone over-focuses on Kidman’s unfortunate prosthetic nose effects to look more like a novelist.”
Nicole, for her part, was visibly uncomfortable discussing the subject in the press, once telling Oprah Winfrey during a promotional interview, “I hate talking about my nose.”
© Getty Images Nicole starred in the film alongside Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore
However, many saw the change in appearance as a dual internal and external transformation that cemented Nicole’s place as a top actress, one who was already on the rise thanks to Moulin Rouge and The othersalso from 2001.
AO Scott wrote in The New York Times at the time: “Ms. Kidman’s physical transformation into Virginia Woolf seemed so impressive—and was so extravagantly praised—partly because it seemed so improbable, because she hadn’t hit anyone, until then , as the kind of actress who could disappear from the screen so completely.”
© Getty Images One of the biggest critics of “the nose” was Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein
The narrative was there for Nicole to take home the big prize on March 23, 2003 at the 75th Academy Awards, against Salma Hayek in FridaRenée Zellweger d ChicagoDiane Lane in Unfaithfuland Hours colleague Julianne Moore in Far from heaven.
While Salma and Renée were also (unfortunately in retrospect) part of the Miramax machine that Oscar season, all eyes were on Nicole, especially with rumors of whether her controversial look change would pay off.
© Getty Images Her exceptional performance ultimately earned her the top Academy Award
Of course, when Denzel Washington read the results, he joked, “By the nose, Nicole Kidman!” Since then, Nicole has been nominated for an Oscar three more times, all without a “nose”. And the rest remains prosthetic movie magic!
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Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education