Oscar nomination for Being The Ricardos brings Nicole Kidman to tears

An emotional Nicole Kidman has described her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being The Ricardos as ‘the hardest thing I’ve done’.

Nearly two decades after making history as Australia’s first Best Actress Oscar winner, Nicole Kidman was overcome with emotion at landing yet another nomination.

The homegrown superstar will lead the charge of Aussies at Hollywood's biggest night of the year in Los Angeles on March 27.

Kidman is nominated for the coveted Best Actress nod for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being The Ricardos.

“I literally cried. I just can’t believe it,” Kidman told The Daily Telegraph on the phone from the US, hours after receiving the news.

Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball. Picture: Instagram

Kidman in Being the Ricardos. Picture: Instagram

“This was the hardest thing I have ever done and so I didn’t realise how much emotion I was holding on to. It has been a long time and I am so grateful. The older you get, I am telling you the sweeter and the more intense it is … I don’t know about getting more mellow because that is so not the case. I am elated.”

Kidman’s co-star Javier Bardem is up for Best Actor for playing Desi Arnaz in the film, while JK Simmons is up for Best Supporting Actor.

It is two decades since Kidman, 54, won her first Academy Award in 2002 for The Hours. Her last Oscar nomination came in 2016 for Lion while she also previously received nods for Moulin Rouge and Rabbit Hole.

Nicole Kidman on the set of Being the Ricardos. Picture: Instagram

“It was so far removed from what I’ve done before,” Kidman said of playing Ball, a role she has admitted she may not have taken had she realised the enormity before signing on to the film.

“The idea of doing it and reading the screenplay and doing it in my bedroom is so different from doing it on a world stage.

Co-star Javier Bardem (right) is up for Best Actor for playing Desi Arnaz in the film, while JK Simmons (centre) is up for Best Supporting Actor. Picture: Instagram

Kidman’s competition in the category includes Jessica Chastain and Kristen Stewart.

After two years of very little red carpet action due to the pandemic, Kidman is looking forward to frocking up and walking the red carpet with chart topping musician husband Keith Urban.

“I am really hoping we get to go,” she said. “If it happens, it will be an amazing experience just because there has been no celebration, no film festivals or anything like that.

“The (Being the Ricardos) premiere in Sydney was pretty amazing, from the Cremorne Orpheum to the Oscars, I will take it. I am getting dressed up. I am putting on that red lipstick and I am going to the ball.”

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on the red carpet for the Australian premiere of Being The Ricardos. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Kidman at the Los Angeles premiere of Being The Ricardos. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Joining Kidman on the list of Aussie Oscar nominated talent for 2022 is rising star Kodi Smit-McPhee, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Power of the Dog, from Jane Campion, who is up for Best Director.

That film topped this year’s Oscar nominations with 12 across multiple categories, and is a Western drama set in 1920s Montana.

Producer Emile Sherman, who previously won and Academy Award for The King’s Speech, could also take home an award for his work on The Power of the Dog while Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser is nominated for his work on Dune.