Nicole Kidman reveals truth behind controversial Vanity Fair cover

The Aussie actress has lifted the lid on her racy Vanity Fair pics, revealing a surprise detail about what actually happened behind the scenes.

Nicole Kidman’s Vanity Fair cover shoot caused controversy. Picture: Vanity Fair

Nicole Kidman has addressed her controversial Vanity Fair spread, confirming the decision to wear the outfit that raised so many eyebrows was completely her own.

The Australian actress, 56, graced the cover of the magazine for its annual Hollywood issue in 2022 – a feature that traditionally depicts the season’s award show darlings dressed to the nines in cocktail wear.

Instead, Kidman donned a tiny Miu Miu miniskirt and crop-top, showcasing her impressive abs as she stood, with one leg cocked, between two golden gates.

The criticism was instantaneous, with some asking on Twitter “why she’s styled like an early 90s teen pop star,” and another comparing her to a “teenager in Euphoria.”

“I make the most random, crazy choices. I call them ‘teenage choices’ because I just don’t ever think of consequences,” Kidman admitted in a new interview with Stellar, out today.

“Part of my brain just doesn’t think like that. I just go, ‘Oh, I’m going to wear that; it reminds me of my school uniform.’ Or ‘Oh my God, yeah, I’d love to do that.’

“I try to [stay] in that place because I think otherwise you get scared or worried.”

The Being the Ricardos star, who’s carved out an impressive 40-year Hollywood career, added that she makes sure she isn’t informed of online criticisms.

“Don’t tell me, I don’t really want to know – it will stop me doing what I want to do. There are times when you hear things and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s really hurtful’,” Kidman said.

“Because you can’t be under a rock. But at the same time, I really try to stay free in the choices because otherwise, before you know it, you’re just closed off and you can’t step anywhere.

“ … I want for myself just to keep going, ‘Oh, well, I’m trying something or I wanted to do it. It was fun. That was my choice. And yeah, I own it. I’m accountable. Whatever. I take responsibility. Nobody else chose it.”

Kidman previously addressed the “ridiculous” cover outfit in a conversation with director Baz Luhrmann for Vogue Australia last year, revealing she “begged” Vanity Fair’s stylist, Katie Grand, to let her wear the revealing outfit over another that had been chosen for her.

“I was like, ‘No, no, I like this one! Am I allowed to wear that?’” she said, revealing Grand had to check whether she was joking.

“Katie was like, ‘You’re willing to wear that?!’ And I said, ‘Wear it?! I’m begging you to wear it!’”

Kidman usually leans toward more classic styles. Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images

Despite her courage on the day, Kidman did admit to some second thoughts after she’d wrapped the shoot.

“I did walk away thinking, ‘What was I thinking?! That was ridiculous! What were you doing, Nicole?!’ And then I went, ‘Eh, oh well!’” she said.

“Cause you know that part about me where I’m like, ‘I’m just going to do what I want to do, ultimately!’ And just have some fun. And just commit, like really commit when I show up, do it. But there’s got to be some fun. And sometimes it’s going to work, and sometimes it isn’t. But I love the idea of being bold and not fitting into a box.”

Read the full interview with Gina Liano in this week’s Stellar, included in the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Herald Sun.

You can also listen to her on the latest episode of the Something To Talk About podcast