Nicole Kidman presented her erotic drama "Babygirl" at the Venice Film Festival, sharing that she felt "exposed and nervous" as the controlled intimacy of the film set was projected on the big screen to a global audience, BTA reports.
Kidman has done a string of risque films throughout her career, including "Eyes Wide Shut" by Stanley Kubrick, which premiered in Venice 25 years ago.
However, the actress has now told reporters that she is very worried about the reaction to her latest film.
In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman stars as Romy, a successful New York City executive who puts both her career and family at risk by embarking on a passionate affair with a young, opportunistic intern.
"Making the movie with these people here was delicate and intimate and very, very deep," said Kidman, who sat with director Halina Raine and co-stars Antonio Banderas and Harris Dickinson, who play her husband and lover .
"However, it definitely leaves me exposed, vulnerable and scared...", she added. "We're all a little nervous, so I thought I hope my hands don't shake.
Shooted by a female director, Babygirl brings a female perspective to the erotic thriller genre as it explores Romi's darkest fantasies, which she cannot fulfill within the confines of her seemingly successful marriage.
"I'm very happy to be able to make a film about female desire, but it's also a film about a woman in an existential crisis, and it's multi-layered,'' said director Halina Rein.
Babygirl reveals the profound differences in the way younger and older generations view sex in a city where political correctness reigns supreme.
"I think there is a general confusion about how to behave during sex," said Harris Dickinson, praising the work of the intimacy coordinator, who helped the actors overcome their natural barriers.
Nicole Kidman, who in 2002 won an "Oscar" for best actress for her role as Virginia Woolf in "The Hours," has worked with many of the leading male directors of her generation. The actress says that a few years ago she decided to encourage female directors like Rain.
"Now I'm going to get behind a lot of female directors to try to change the ratio," Kidman said.
Six of the 21 films in competition at the Venice Film Festival, which runs until September 7, are directed by women, including Babygirl. Last year, five of the 23 films in competition were by women.