3 minute read
Gold Meets Golden
Nicole Kidman Celebrates the Event’s 5th Anniversary and Her Own Golden Year
Exclusive Interview with Gold Meets Golden host Nicole Kidman
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Nicole Kidman is truly having a golden year. Starting out in January, the Australian talent earned both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Lion; saw the February release of the critically acclaimed HBO mini-series Big Little Lies, which would bring her an Emmy for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Limited Series in September; brought an unprecedented four projects to the Cannes Film Festival; filmed ‘down under’ a pivotal role in the anticipated Aquaman and is currently working with fellow countrymen Russell Crowe and Joel Edgerton in the latter’s directorial effort Boy Erased, and will soon be seen in the comedy The Upside, a remake of the French hit The Untouchables. If that wasn’t enough, Kidman turned fifty, ironically her own golden anniversary.
Still, the Oscar, and now Emmy winner, found time to co-host Gold Meets Golden, engaging in some magical moments with some of her own Olympic heroes. Since its inception in 2013, Kidman has lent her support each year and highlights of her involvement include spirited tête-à-têtes with such luminaries as Kerri Walsh, Missy Franklin, Gracie Gold and the “Fab 5” gymnastics teams from both London 2012 and Rio 2016.
BH Lifestyle sat down with Kidman to talk about her GMG support and own Olympic recollections.
Q: Orlin: What is your first memory of the Olympics? Do you remember as a child watching anything in particular?
A: Kidman: I remember always loving the Gymnastics, as a little girl I would watch these extraordinary girls do extraordinary things in amazement. I also always loved the 800 metres and the 100 metre sprint in track. And of course being Australian I loved the swimming.
Q: Orlin: Many people watching the Games fantasize about having their own Gold winning moment. What sport was yours in?
A: Kidman: I did not fantasize about my own gold winning moment. I was lucky if I ever came third in a race - it was not my strong suit! The only thing I was ok at was swimming and of course I love playing tennis as well.
Q: Orlin: As a brand ambassador for Omega, you have been given the chance to attend the Olympics and witness events up close and personal. What has that experience been like for you? Do you have a great memory of that?
A: Kidman: I have been lucky to attend the Summer Olympics & the Winter Olympics with Omega, who are the Official Timekeeper for the Olympics. I must say, I have always loved the ice skating, I was always glued to the TV watching every part of it when I was little and to be able to see that up close in Vancouver in 2010 was just gorgeous and a dream come true for me. I always love the Opening Ceremony as well and the incredible creativity each city brings with every opening ceremony.
Q: Orlin: Did you ever have a ‘fan girl” moment during the Gold Meets Golden events when meeting any Olympian?
A: Kidman: I think it’s always lovely to meet people that excel at what they do and Olympians are so strong and so disciplined and I have a huge respect and admiration for that. I’ve met all of them but obviously the young girls - The Dream Team, it was so lovely to be able to meet them and talk to them about my own little girls and their love for gymnastics.
Q: Orlin: Over the years at the Olympics, women have provided audiences with some of the most amazing accomplishments, with standouts like Nadia Comaneci, Dorothy Hamill, Kerri Walsh, Simone Biles and now Katie Ledecky. As the mother of daughters, how inspiring is this to showcase to them the physical potential they might possess?
A: Kidman: Yes, when they watch it they sit down and they’re glued to the screen. It shows discipline, passion, and it allows them to see girls really excelling beyond expectation. And any time you see that pursuit of excellence I think is so good to reinforce in children.
Q: Orlin: In 11 years the Games will be back to Los Angeles for the 3rd time. How exciting is that for LA?
A: Kidman: I think we will all be so excited to have it in LA. Maybe the traffic will be the one problem. I think it will be really special and there will be such a unity in the city and that’s the thing about the Olympic games, it unifies people.
By Scott Orlin
