Nicole Kidman Reveals Her “Worst On‑Screen Kiss” and Opens Up About Intimate Scene Boundaries.
Nicole Kidman has never shied away from bold roles, but the Oscar‑winning actress is just as fearless when it comes to speaking candidly about the realities of filming intimate scenes. Now 58, the Australian star has reflected on her decades‑long career — and revealed which co‑star delivered her “worst kiss” on screen.
The falafel incident: Kidman calls out Alexander Skarsgård
During a recent appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast, Kidman recalled a memorable — and not in a good way — moment from the set of Big Little Lies. Her on‑screen husband, Alexander Skarsgård, had indulged in a falafel sandwich right before they were scheduled to shoot a romantic scene.
“When Alexander Skarsgård ate a falafel sandwich before we did the scenes in Big Little Lies, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, Alex,’” she said, laughing.
She remembered warning him:
“‘I’m meant to be into you and kissing you — put away the falafel now.’”
According to Kidman, Skarsgård took the note to heart — and never repeated the mistake.
Nicole Kidman made sure Alexander Skarsgård didn't have bad breath before one of their "Big Little Lies" kissing scenes. 🤭 pic.twitter.com/XR8RaZ16Rf
— Page Six (@PageSix) March 11, 2026
Bad breath? “Deal‑breaker,” says Kidman
The actress didn’t hold back when discussing her biggest on‑set turn‑off:
“I cannot stand bad breath. This is a deal‑breaker for me. You could be the most gorgeous guy, and if you came at me with bad breath, I’m like, no.”
She added that if she asks someone to “breathe on me” and has to recoil, the moment is over — no matter the paycheck.
The best‑smelling celebrity? Kidman doesn’t hesitate
While she had no trouble naming her least pleasant kiss, Kidman also revealed the star who smells the most divine: Rihanna.
“We don’t need to unwind it or decipher it — just know that it’s all true. It’s intoxicating. I will follow you around.”
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A special contract clause during Eyes Wide Shut
Kidman also revisited her time filming Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick’s final film, which she starred in alongside then‑husband Tom Cruise. The 1999 erotic thriller is infamous for its explicit scenes — and Kidman revealed she negotiated a unique clause to feel protected.
Speaking to New York Magazine in 2020, she explained that Kubrick initially told her he wanted full‑frontal nudity. Unsure, she worked out a contractual agreement:
“He would show me the scenes with the nudity before they made it into the film.”
This gave her the confidence to perform without fear of being exploited or misrepresented.
“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to be me standing there nude and everyone laughing at me.”
The arrangement allowed her to fully explore the film’s themes of jealousy, desire, and marital tension.
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Kubrick’s final cut — and final days
Eyes Wide Shut became Kubrick’s last work; the legendary director died just six days after screening the completed film for Warner Bros. The studio later digitally altered the film’s most explicit orgy sequences to secure an R rating.
