What did Nicole Kidman say about Julia Roberts?

Nicole Kidman’s Honest Confession About Julia Roberts and Notting Hill

In a candid moment that blends humility and humor, Nicole Kidman opened up about one of Hollywood’s most iconic romantic roles — Julia Roberts’ part in Notting Hill — revealing she once hoped to land the part herself. In an interview featured by PEOPLE, Kidman admitted she had her eye on the role that ultimately made Roberts a rom-com legend, but stepped back with surprising grace.

“I was up for it,” Kidman confessed, “but I thought, ‘You know what? I’m not talented enough.’” A statement so self-effacing it’s hard not to admire. Coming from one of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation — an Oscar winner, no less — the remark feels less like insecurity and more like genuine reverence for Roberts’ effortless charm and comic timing.

The 1999 film, written by Richard Curtis and starring Roberts as a mega-famous movie star who falls for a humble London bookseller (played by Hugh Grant), became a defining moment in romantic cinema. While Kidman was already a powerhouse presence in dramas like Moulin Rouge! and The Hours, she recognized that some roles demand a specific kind of sparkle — one Roberts embodies with ease.

“Julia has this incredible warmth,” Kidman went on. “She makes you fall in love with her in the first five minutes. I don’t know if I could’ve done that quite the same way.”

It’s rare to hear such unguarded admiration between leading actresses in Hollywood, where competition often stays behind closed doors. But Kidman’s words weren’t about rivalry — they were about respect. And in that, she might’ve shown more star power than any scripted scene ever could.

Ultimately, the role went where it belonged, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Still, Kidman’s reflection adds a quiet, human moment to Tinseltown lore — one where even the brightest stars see others who shine just a little brighter in certain roles.