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Actor spoke out about 'horrible' experience working with Nicole Kidman as actress admits she struggled to kiss him due to 'bad breath'
Nicole Kidman shared a hilarious but brutally honest behind-the-scenes story about filming intimate scenes with a co-star whose lunch caused an unexpected problem.
The Oscar-winning actress recently revealed that one particular kissing scene left her struggling to stay in character after the actor turned up with noticeably unpleasant breath. The moment happened while filming the hit HBO drama Big Little Lies, where Kidman starred opposite Alexander Skarsgård.
While their characters shared intense and often difficult scenes on screen, Kidman admitted that a falafel sandwich created a very different challenge on set.
A falafel faux pas on set
Speaking during an appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast, the 58-year-old actress recalled a moment when Skarsgård arrived ready to film after eating a falafel sandwich.
“I'm like, 'No, no, no, Alex,'” she joked.
Kidman said the smell quickly became a distraction during the scene and explained that a co-star’s breath can make a big difference when filming close-up moments. According to her, the taste and smell of someone’s mouth is “very important.”
The actress was very clear about how much the issue bothers her.
“I don’t think so, honey, if you have bad breath,” she said. “I cannot stand bad breath. This is a deal-breaker for me. You could be the most gorgeous, gorgeous guy, and you came at me with bad breath, I'm like, no.'"
Kidman joked that the incident likely changed Skarsgård’s menu choices while filming.
“I'm sure [Skarsgård] did not eat a falafel ever again. I said, ‘No more falafel. Not before you kiss, not before you make love.’”
She added: "If I say, ‘Breathe on me,’ and I have to recoil, yikes, I'm out. You could not offer me enough money."
Kidman also shared that temporarily losing her sense of smell during Covid actually brought a strange sense of relief because it is normally her strongest sense.
“Finally, I was free,” she said.
Skarsgård recalls physically intense filming
The pair worked together on scenes in Big Little Lies that were not only emotional but physically demanding.
On KISS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show, Skarsgård spoke about filming the violent moments between their characters and revealed how committed Kidman was to the role.
"I mean, it was extraordinary to work with Nicole. She's not only an incredible actress but she's also like the most lovely and generous and sweet woman. So of course, shooting those scenes were horrible. Absolutely horrible," said Skarsgard.
“She is incredibly committed, and we did have a body double, like a stunt double on set, for you know, when I throw her over chairs and stuff, and when it gets really violent, and Nicole wanted to do it herself.”
He explained that building trust between the actors was essential before shooting those scenes.
“Nicole and I had some time together to build up that trust before shooting those scenes which was crucial to have, because again, some of them are very violent and very physical and very psychologically draining,” he continued.
Skarsgård also said Kidman ended up bruised while filming the intense sequences.
Kidman reveals the celebrity who smells the best
Elsewhere during the podcast episode, Kidman shared the celebrity she believes smells the “best ever.”
According to the actress, that title belongs to Rihanna, whose scent left a lasting impression.
Kidman described the singer’s smell as “intoxicating.”
"Like I will follow you around," she added.
The interview came shortly after Kidman spoke publicly about her divorce from Keith Urban. In a conversation with Variety, she said she is focusing on moving forward.
"I am, because I’m always going to be moving toward what’s good," she said when asked if she was “doing all right” after the split.
Kidman emphasized that her main priority is her family.
"What I’m grateful for is my family and keeping them as is and moving forward. That’s that," she explained. "Everything else I don’t discuss out of respect. I’m staying in a place of, 'We are a family,' and that’s what we’ll continue to be. My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women."
Kidman filed for divorce from Urban in September 2025, and the split was finalized on January 6. The former couple share two daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 15.