Nicole Kidman Refused to Say N-Word in Paperboy

"It didn't feel right," the actress said of director Lee Daniels' request.

Posted: 10/05/2012 09:00 AM EDT
Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman doesn't have many boundaries when it comes to her character in Lee Daniels' The Paperboy, but there is one line she wouldn't cross. 

Despite Daniels' urging, the Academy Award-winning actress refused to say the N-word to a Black character in a scene for the controversial film. During a press conference for the New York Film Festival, Kidman explained why. "I didn't feel like it was right for the character," adding, "I have a son who's African-American and I just didn't feel it was right. It wasn't right."

Daniels revealed he was initially frustrated with Kidman, but relented after a producer pointed out that the actress had already agreed to do sexually-explicit scenes, urinate on co-star Zac Efron and do her own make-up for the film. 

While the director's unusual requests initially unnerved Kidman, she admitted that she "wanted to be in places I've never been before" and "go home at night and feel discomfort."

Gotta wonder what Daniels is putting Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker and the rest of cast of his new film, The Butler, through!

The Paperboy, also starring David Oyelowo and Macy Gray, comes out in limited release this Friday.


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(Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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