By her grace: Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly

Nicole Kidman

Film biographies have and will always be subjected to criticisms, particularly in terms of historical accuracy. Some newly released Oscar buzz-worthy and much talked-about biopics like “The Imitation Game” (on English mathematician and logician Alan Turing, played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and “The Theory of Everything” (on physicist Stephen Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne) also raised some eyebrows in this regard.

“Grace of Monaco,” starring Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly, also had its share of critics, notably Kelly’s own children, Prince Albert II of Monaco and his sisters, Princesses Carlorine and Stéphanie. This pushed both Kidman, to say in a 2012 interview that the film is more of a character study; and director Olivier Dahan, in 2013, to insist that he did not make a biopic, instead, “a human portrait of a modern woman…”

“Grace of Monaco” premiered in Cannes in March this year. Kidman says it covers only a specific point in Kelly’s life, “six years into her marriage, with two children.”

Kelly, of course, was a Hollywood actress before giving it up at age 26 and marrying Prince Rainier in 1956, becoming known as Princess of Monaco since. As an actress herself, Kidman has empathy for what the princess could have gone through at the point in her life depicted in the movie.

“Inevitably if you’re a creative person and if you have a passion, which Grace did, there’s a pull to what you used to do,” Kidman says. “The reality of walking away from it is very different to the idea of it. Then (director Alfred) Hitchcock offered her the role of Marnie and she is more than tempted to return to Hollywood.”

However, Kidman – also a mother –understands walking away from the limelight. “I think she chose love. Many people do that in their lives. She was a major American movie star; at a very early age she won an Academy Award and she then said: ‘I’m actually going to leave it all because I want a marriage, I want a family.’ And I think that that’s a very strong thrust for many people – not just women.”

Kidman notes that when faced with the same dilemma, “there’s no question what I would choose.” However, she may still feel the pull of acting given that she feels it’s in her blood. “It’s just some sort of creative desire to express myself and I would need that – otherwise I would be a nightmare to live with,” she says laughing.

Noting her sadness at not getting the support or the approval of the Royal Family of Monaco, Kidman says, “I don’t think that this movie does harm to anybody. If they had seen it, they would have remarked that ‘Grace of Monaco’ has been filmed with a lot of affection and respect for Grace Kelly.”

Playing a real person, an actress at that, Kidman gets a firsthand experience of how tricky it can be. Although she finds similarities in their lives, she points out, “I obviously did not marry a prince.” She pauses but quickly adds with a laugh, “Ah well, probably I’m married to a prince – a country prince!” Indeed, Keith Urban is a prince to her, an “American Idol” to many others.

The movie does not skirt depicting glamour, something Kidman knows a thing or two about. She is, after all, a perennial red carpet stunner. The production had access to clothes from the House of Dior and jewelry from Cartier, making the set virtually a fashionista haven! Asked if she took anything, Kidman jokes, “I kept the $5 million necklace!”

“Grace of Monaco” finally screens in local cinemas nationwide on Dec. 3.

By her grace: Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly

Source: Mb.com.ph (December 01, 2014 at 01:00AM)

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