Nicole Kidman Talks Scientology, Paperboy Pee Scene: "I Just Don't Find Urination Shocking"

Aussie film star talks about getting down and dirty for her most recent indie flick and (kind of) addresses reports that Scientology was the cause of her split with Cruise

By Josh Grossberg Jan 16, 2013 5:50 PMTags
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Nicole Kidman isn't afraid to bare her soul on the big screen, but not so much when it comes to discussing her real-life split from Tom Cruise.

Gracing the cover of the latest edition of The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar winner dished on that much-buzzed-about golden shower scene in last year's indie The Paperboy, and (sorta) revealed why she'd rather change the subject when it comes to rumors that Scientology played a role in her 2001 divorce from the Top Gun star.

When it's mentioned that in Lawrence Wright's new book on Scientology, Going Clear, the dissolution of their marriage is blamed on the Church, Kidman quipped, "I'll bet it is."

While neither confirming nor denying the report, she did hint at why she's remained mum on the topic all these years.

"I've chosen not to speak publicly about Scientology. I have two children who are Scientologists—Connor [17] and Isabella [20]—and I utterly respect their beliefs," said the actress.

Kidman, as gorgeous as ever at 45, wasn't shy, however, about discussing her sexually explicit role in last year's The Paperboy, a 1960s-era drama from Precious director Lee Daniels.

The movie turned heads for one particularly infamous scene in which she urinated on costar Zac Efron's bare chest after his character is stung by a jellyfish on a beach. But if you ask Nicole, it was just another day at the office. 

"I just don't find urination shocking," Kidman noted. "I think I peed in the beginning of Eyes Wide Shut, too. But then, I don't find a lot of things shocking! Violence is a lot more shocking than sex—sex is primal."

She revealed that she also had no problem baring her bum for the camera.

"Lee had an obsession about shooting me from behind—he was obsessed with my ass! To me, that was so funny—he's hilarious, I love him. I'm drawn to Lee for his wild nature," the thesp remarked, adding, "I felt shy singing in Moulin Rouge!—but peeing—no, not shy."

Next up for Kidman, she's set to start shooting the Memento-esque Before I Go to Sleep later this year and stars in Oldboy director Chan-Wook Park's horror flick, Stoker, premiering at next week's Sundance Film Festival.