4. Satine - Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Whether you're a Baz Lurhman fan or not, you have to admire
Moulin Rouge!'s audacious style and visual flair. And as Satine, the star courtesan of the iconic titular institute, Kidman delivers another great, dazzling and sensitive performance. She also happens to be playing a character with one of those nasty Hollywood coughs - you know, the kind that signals something might not be right in the "living" department. Luckily, Kidman manages to convince us of her ailments with real emotional swing, despite the heightened levels of fantasy inherent in
Moulin Rouge!.
Mouline Rouge! also offers Kidman the chance to vary her performance style at different points in the film, which is a luxury rarely offered to an actor. This, she proves, is easy, as she switches between moments of melodrama, farce and darkness with genuine ease. The movie ultimately serves as a showcase for Kidman's talent, then - if you don't like the way Lurhman puts it all together, you'll at least leave
Moulin Rogue! in awe of Kidman. Oh, and she can sing, too.