Nicole Kidmanis a bona fide movie star, but in the past decade, the award-winning icon has made a name for herself on television, too.Nicole Kidman is from a different class of actorthan most you see in movies or on television. If there is such a thing as an A list, she’s on the double A list.
Kidman is a five-time Academy Award nominee, winning once in 2002 forThe Hours. You may be tempted to say, as you would for many actors over a certain age, thatKidman’s career was mostly impressive for her early roles, but that is far from the truth, and her late-period TV resurgence is something exceptional.
6Grace Fraser (6 Episodes, 2020)
The Undoing (2020)
Based on the 2014 novelYou Should Have Knownby Jean Hanff Korelitz,The Undoingis a psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman as Grace Fraser, a successful and seemingly happy psychologist in New York. Her life is flipped upside-down when her husband, and Grace by association, are implicated in a murder case.
Grace is a fascinating character who seems to be content with her life at the start of the series, and assumes everyone else in her life is as well. Things come crashing down as she quickly realizes that underneath the surface of her family is something unsatisfied and even dangerous.
It’s a beautifully shot series that captures the dreaminess and the harshness of New York City all at once. The chemistry between Hugh Grant, who plays Grace’s husband, Jonathan, and Kidman is as good as you would expect, and makes up for some of the dumb character decisions and unbelievable moments.
5Greer Garrison Winbury (6 Episodes, 2024)
The Perfect Couple (2024)
The Perfect Couplemay not beone of Netflix’s best miniseries, but it’s still a watchable and intriguing murder mystery, with a nuanced performance from Nicole Kidman in the lead as Greer Garrison Winbury, a famous novelist and the mother of a groom about to be married.
The series begins on the wedding weekend for Greer’s son Benji (Billy Howle) and Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson), at the Winburys' lavish Nantucket home. A murder of someone close to the family sets off a chain reaction of lies, cover-ups, and paranoia that throws the Winburys' idea of a “perfect” family into relief.
It’s a series with its fair share of obvious twists and turns, but the chemistry between the cast and the spicy reveals throughout keep the miniseries interesting. Kidman plays a familiar role, a privileged elite with a dark past, but she has much less control inThe Perfect Couple, offering a more turbulent character who’s fun to watch unravel.
4Kaitlyn Meade (16 Episodes, 2023-2024)
Lioness (2023-Present)
One of the few non-WesternTV shows in the Sheridan-verse,Lionessis a24-like spy thriller and military drama that follows a section of the undercover CIA operations, known as the “Lionesses”. This all-female squad is a counter-terrorism unit led by Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), whose work is overseen by Kaitlyn Meade.
A high-ranking CIA official, Kaitlyn is a savvy political player who still considers the success of her missions her highest duty, even while she’s finagling power in Washington. Kaitlyn is also something of a maternal figure for Joe. She expects her to do her job, but also takes a non-professional interest in Joe’s life.
It’s a performance that wouldn’t be unwelcome in aBondmovie, similar to a character like “M”. She always seems to have the edge on everyone she’s dealing with, but Kidman gives the character a heart that lets you know there is something more to Kaitlyn and that it’s OK to trust her.
3Julia Edwards (6 Episodes, 2017)
Top Of The Lake (2013-2017)
Top of the Lakeis a two-season mystery drama series written and created by acclaimed director Jane Campion. More of an anthology, each season of the show is distinct with a definitive ending. Nicole Kidman co-stars as Julia Edwards in season 2, which is subtitledChina Girl.
Top of the Lake: China Girlis set five years after the events of season 1, with some of the original characters, including Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss), back for another case, this one involving an unidentified Asian girl found dead on Bondi Beach. Julia is the adoptive mother of the child Robin gave up for adoption years earlier.
It’s a deeply engrossing and atmospheric series that uses the Australian setting to create something both comforting and slightly unknowable. Kidman is fantastic as an overbearing mother. She’s trying to protect her daughter, but at the same time bristles at Robin for trying to step back into her life.
2Margaret Woo (6 Episodes, 2024)
Expats (2024)
Expatsis an original Amazon Prime Video miniseries that is based on Janice Y. K. Lee’s 2016 novel of the same name. The series follows a close-knit group of American expatriates who live a life of decadence and luxury in Hong Kong. Beneath the parties and glamor are people struggling to fit in and self-identify.
Margaret Woo lives in the city with her husband, Clarke (Brian Tee), and their two children. The Woos recently lost their three-year-old son, Gus, and are struggling to move on from the event, which is made particularly wrenching because of the unconfirmed nature of what exactly happened to him.
It’s a devastating performance from Kidman, who hides her character’s pain behind a somewhat snobbish and white-knuckled public performance. Margaret is a woman confident about everything, save for who she is supposed to be after losing her son. Kidman plays her character as paranoid and powerful, but mostly grieving.
1Celeste Wright (14 Episodes, 2017-2019)
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
Big Little Lieswould be ranked among thebest miniseries on HBOif the platform were not already filled with so many excellent series, but on any other platform, this psychological dark comedy drama would be near the top of the list. Based on Liane Moriarty’s 2014 novel, the show ran for two seasons.
The series begins with a homicide at a California elementary school that ropes in five women who become embroiled in the investigation. Nicole Kidman plays Celeste Wright, a retired lawyer and mother of twins who are just beginning at the school. Celeste’s husband, Perry (Alexander Skarsgård), seems like a catch, but is secretly abusive to her.
Despite the grim subject matter,Big Little Liesis a surprisingly funny show that draws you in with an intriguing mystery and then shocks you with laughs and thrills.Nicole Kidmanis at her best here, earning two Golden Globe nominations and winning once, and earning an Emmy for her multi-layered performance.
