‘Being the Ricardos’: Nicole Kidman Claps Back at Sexist Lucille Ball Interview Question About Tom Cruise
Nicole Kidman won big at the 2022 Golden Globes for her performance as Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos. Aaron Sorkin casting the talented actor initially concerned some audiences. However, she is continuously surprising the world with how far her performance is taking her. Kidman recently shut down an interviewer asking her a sexist question.
Nicole Kidman explains Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s ‘Being the Ricardos’ relationship story
The Guardian interviewed Kidman about her latest film Being the Ricardos. She plays Ball and her television persona, Lucy. The story follows Ball and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) over the course of a chaotic week that has their future careers in jeopardy. The press accuses Ball of communism and Arnaz of cheating on his wife with another woman.
However, Kidman enjoys the fact that Being the Ricardos doesn’t end on the most joyful note. She views Sorkin’s approach to be both fascinating and relatable for audiences.
“It’s about a creative and romantic relationship that doesn’t work out,” Kidman said. “But from it come some extraordinary things. And I love that. I love that it’s not a happy ending. This film says you can make an extraordinary relationship thrive and leave remnants of it that exist forever. Yeah, that’s really gorgeous.”
Nicole Kidman shuts down sexist Lucille Ball interview question about Tom Cruise
Kidman opened up about her perspective on Being the Ricardos and how audiences perceive the story. However, The Guardian’s interview took a quick turn into a place that Kidman wasn’t expecting. As a result, the interviewer offended Kidman and she appropriately clapped back.
“You can’t make people behave how you want them to, and sometimes you’re going to fall in love with someone who isn’t going to be the person you spend the rest of your life with,” Kidman said. “And I think that’s all very relatable. You may have kids with them. You may not, but they were very much in love.”
The Guardian responded by asking if this was her way of addressing Tom Cruise. She choked a bit as she responded, calling the question “almost sexist.”
“Oh, my God, no, no. Absolutely not,” Kidman said. “No. I mean, that’s, honestly, so long ago that that isn’t in this equation. So no. And I would ask not to be pigeonholed that way, either. It feels to me almost sexist, because I’m not sure anyone would say that to a man. And at some point, you go, ‘Give me my life. In its own right.’”
‘Being the Ricardos’ speaks on sexism and ageism in Hollywood
Being the Ricardos explores a woman’s perspective in Hollywood. Lucille believes that she’s finally landing her big break into film. She loves Arnaz, but she’s also very passionate about her career and wants to achieve her dreams away from the relationship. However, the studio rejects her because of her age, expressing that she’d be a better fit for radio.
Sexism and ageism continue to exist in Hollywood and in other industries around the world. Kidman’s powerful performance successfully communicates this offensive occurrence that many female actors endure as they get older.
Being the Ricardos is available now to stream on Amazon.
