Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
There have multiple occurrences where many talented individuals have lost the opportunity to add the prestigious Academy Award to their resumes. Nicole Kidman also lost a similar opportunity when she refused to star in Stephen Daldry’s 2008 romantic dramaThe Reader. The actress later revealed the reason for stepping down from her role in the film, sharing that it was a decision she took in concern for her unborn child.
Her part would eventually go to theTitanicactress Kate Winslet, who won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 81st Academy Awards forThe Reader. The Australian actress later opened up about leaving the role during an interview.
Read More:“She was good, but it didn’t work”: Tom Cruise Nearly Starred With Ex-Wife Nicole Kidman In $267M Movie Before Critically Acclaimed Erotic Thriller 6 Years Later
Why Nicole Kidman Left Stephen Daldry’sThe Reader?
The 2008 filmThe Readerfollows Michael Berg, who gets into a relationship with an older woman Hanna Schmitz, who disappears only to return years after at a Nazi concentration camp. Nicole Kidman was offered the role of Hanna Schmitz in the movie, but she refused as she did not want to stress herself or her child at the time.
While promoting her controversial 2014 filmGrace of Monaco,Nicole Kidmanshared that she was approached for the lead role inThe Reader. But the actress was pregnant with her first biological child Sunday Rose, at the time. When she told the makers the same, they asked her if she could still work on the film.
“I got pregnant, and I was meant to do The Reader. And they said, “Oh, can you still do it?”she shared. However, theBig Little Liesactress was worried about the impact of the film’s harrowing themes on her child. She said,“The way I work, it would penetrate my baby.”
The concern for her child led her to leave the production, andKate Winsletbecame Hanna Schmitz in the 2008 movie.The Readerlanded five nominations at the 2009 Academy Awards, and theAvataractress won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in the film.
Read More:Wolverine Star Hugh Jackman Did Not Feel Comfortable Kissing Nicole Kidman Because of Their Past Relationship
Kate Winslet Was Meant to Star inThe Reader
Kate Winslet eventually got the role after Nicole Kidman refused to star inThe Reader. However, it appears as if she was meant to portray Hanna Schmitz. The actress shared that she came across the book the film was based on years ago when she was pregnant with her son Joe.
She was reportedly 27 at the time and was curious about who would portray the character of Hanna Schmitz if the book gets adapted into a film. And to her surprise, the film director, Stephen Daldry, wanted to cast her as Schmitz.
However, she had to deny the offer due to scheduling conflicts with her 2008 filmRevolutionary Road. After this, the makers approached Kidman for the role. But once she left the project, Winslet was offered the part again and could continue the project without affecting her schedule.
The Readeris available on Prime Video.
Read More:“I never got a ping on gaydar”: After Nicole Kidman Defended Tom Cruise’s Sexuality, Rolling Stone Founder Squashed Rumors of $600M Star Being Gay
Source:Daily Mail
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3450
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
