Nicole Kidmanalmost didn’t playLucille Ballafter backlash following her casting in the Aaron Sorkin movie.
The Oscar-winning actress appeared onLive with Kelly and Ryanwhere she spoke about starring inBeing the Ricardos, which follows Ball and her then-husband and costar Desi Arnaz as they manage a crisis that could end their careers and their marriage.
“Were you anxious about taking the role?” co-hostKelly Ripaasked Kidman.
“I wasn’t initially. Initially, Aaron Sorkin wrote this screenplay that you read and you cannot put down,” Kidman, 54, said. “I say to people: If you can get your hands on this screenplay, read it because it’s such a good read. It’s as good as a great novel.”
It was when the “reality of playing her hit me” that Kidman began to have doubts about being able to faithfully portray the comedy icon.
“I went, ‘What have I said yes to?’ — to which I then went, ‘Oh no, I’m not right. Everyone thinks I’m not right so I’m going to try to sidestep this,’ " she said. “And the producer Todd Black and Aaron Sorkin were both like, ‘Absolutely not.’ I was in Australia and they were like, ‘No.’ And thank god, because then I was so grateful because I got to fall in love with her.”
When co-host Ryan Seacret complimented Kidman on making “such great choices” in her career, Kidman laughed and said, “They’re all spontaneous, crazy. If you knew how random they are, and how spontaneous they are, You’d be like, ‘Man….’ "
“I’m very [mimics an explosion] which drives Keith crazy,” she added. “It’s very teenage, my choices.”
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Nicole Kidman, Lucille Ball.Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Herbert Dorfman/Getty Images
Being the Ricardosalso stars Javier Bardem as Arnaz, as well as Nina Arianda, J.K. Simmons, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, Linda Lavin, Jake Lacy and John Rubinstein.
News of Kidman’s casting brought onbacklash from fanswho thought other actresses should play the legendary actress in the Sorkin film.
Kidman previouslysaidtaking on the role of Ball was daunting because it was out of her “comfort zone,” but added that she hoped she was funny as the famous comedian. Despite her self-doubt, Kidman got theapprovalof Ball and Arnaz’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, who praised the actress as “spectacular” in the role.
“What she did was astounding,” Lucie toldPalm Springs Life.“She’s got such poise and class.”
Being the Ricardosdebuts in theaters Dec. 10 and on Amazon Prime Video Dec. 21.
source: people.com
