Our Nicole “Shines A Light” On “Insidious” Domestic Violence In Her Emmys Speech
She won the Emmy for Outstanding Actress In A Limited Series!
Nicole Kidman, who’s currently enjoying the greatest and most successful celebrity Comeback Tour in recent memory, just made a blinding speech about the “complicated insidious disease” that is domestic violence in her Emmy awards acceptance speech.
Our Nicole took home the Emmy for Oustanding Leading Actress In A Limited Series today for her exceptional, heartbreaking work on the HBO mega-hit Big Little Lies, which she co-produced for the cable network alongside Reese Witherspoon.
While accepting her well-deserved award for the role, Our Nicole spoke out about domestic violence, which is a major theme of the series, especially for Kidman’s character, Celeste, who endures horrific physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband Perry (a terrifying Alexander Skarsgard).
Kidman gave a characteristically honest and charming speech, in which she thanked her daughters and husband Keith Urban, through a choked-up voice, for supporting her career. “I also want them to know,” she said of her daughters, “that sometimes when you’re acting you get a chance to bring a bigger message, and this is their contribution and your contribution.
“We shone a light on domestic abuse,” Kidman continued, to rapturous applause. “It is a complicated, insidious disease that exists far more than we allow ourselves to know. It is filled with shame and secrecy, and by you acknowledging me with this award, it shines a light on it even more. So thank you, thank you, thank you. I bow down to you.”
Kidman was up against a group of extraordinarily talented women, including her co-star and co-producer Reese Witherspoon. Vanity Fair called it “the most competitive category in Emmy history“. Kidman beat out three Oscar winners (Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange, Reese Witherspoon), an Oscar nominee (Felicity Huffman) and a critical favourite *(the outstanding Carrie Coon) to snag the gong.
Although Kidman is absolutely deserving of the award, she (adorably) gushed in her speech, “Reese, I share this with you. Without you, I would not be standing up here.” (*tearsssssss*)
The face of a woman who is ecstatic for her BFF!
Big Little Lies had an absolutely mega night at the Emmys. The series took out almost every award for which it was nominated, including Outstanding Supporting Actor (Alexander Skarsgard), Outstanding Supporting Actress (Laura Dern), Outstanding Direction (Jean-Marc Vallee) and Outstanding Limited Series.
It’s a big coup for the show, which is a somewhat radical exploration of middle-aged womens’ lives and identities in a television landscape swamped by young things and grouchy middle-aged men. While accepting their Outstanding Series award, Witherspoon said it has been “an incredible year for women in television and women getting to tell their own stories”. Too bloody right.
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Look out for more Emmys coverage from us, at Junkee and Punkee!
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Matilda Dixon-Smith is Junkee’s Staff Writer. She tweets at @mdixonsmith.