Nicole Kidman Reveals Reason Behind Taking Batman Forever Role

Nicole Kidman has held a slew of iconic roles throughout her fruitful career, including Dr. Chase Meridian from Batman Forever. Besides the paycheck, however, the award-winning actress has a relatable and hilarious reason why she decided to star in the 1995 feature.

The Joel Schumacher-directed Batman Forever saw Kidman as the titular Caped Crusader’s (played by Val Kilmer) love interest. The two are joined by Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Drew Barrymore, Chris O’Donnell, Michael Gough, and more.

Why did Nicole Kidman take the Batman Forever role?

“Everyone’s like, ’Why are you doing that?’ I’m like, ‘Because I get to kiss Batman!’” Kidman said in an interview with L’Officiel. “The thing people don’t understand is, it’s not about the check. A lot of mainstream big blockbusters that I do are hopefully different.”

While it debuted to mixed reviews from critics, the movie is only an addition to Kidman’s notable roles for the years that followed. The actress got a chance to do another superhero movie project, having starred as Atlanna in James Wan’s two Aquaman features. However, Kidman had a different role in mind when the renowned horror filmmaker first reached out to her.

“I’d really wanted to work with him in horror,” she added.

Some of Kidman’s acting credits in the horror genre include The Others, Stoker, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. She is best known for her roles in Moulin Rouge! as Satine, To Die For as Suzanne Stone, The Hours as Virginia Woolf, Dogville as Grace, Eyes Wide Shut as Alice Harford, Rabbit Hole as Becca Corbett, and Malice as Tracy Kennsinger, among a handful of others.

The actress also had some credits on the television landscape, including Five Mile Creek, Big Little Lies, Top of the Lake, The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, Special Ops: Lioness, and Expats.