Nicole Kidman has spoken about the lasting impact of a childhood stutter, revealing how the experience influenced her approach to acting and her characteristic soft-spoken nature. The 59-year-old Australian actress shared that between the ages of four and six, she would struggle to articulate her thoughts.
"I'd try to speak and it wouldn't come out," Kidman said in a recent interview with Attitude Magazine. "I would know exactly what I wanted to say and I'd be almost excited to say, but it wouldn't, it would just take time to come out."
Kidman explained that the experience of having to pause and carefully choose her words contributed to her speaking softly. She also noted that the advice she received as a child – to "stop, pause, think about what you want to say, and then say it" – became a valuable technique.
"So because I would try to speak and then it wouldn't come out, and so the stop and pause. So that's actually quite good for life too," she reflected.
While she has largely overcome the stutter, Kidman mentioned that she occasionally experiences brief moments of it, but has developed strategies to manage it. She also linked her past stutter to shyness, admitting to being a very shy person who dislikes entering crowded places alone.
Kidman's reflections come as she promotes the sequel to her 1998 film, "Practical Magic." She recently made a surprise appearance at a screening of "Practical Magic 2" in Sydney, surprising fans by arriving to a midnight margarita toast. She also attended the film's Los Angeles premiere alongside co-stars Sandra Bullock, Maisie Williams, and Joey King.
During a promotional interview for the sequel, Kidman was asked about her attire and briefly stumbled over her words, responding with "This is Versace. Have fun. Let's party!" The moment, captured on video, amused many social media users. Mets for Practical Magic 2 will premiere on October 18, 2026.