A couple of weeks prior to the film's release on December 7, we had the good fortunate to find space at the film's crowded press conference in London to hear the lovely Nicole Kidman talk about how she approached the role of Mrs. Coulter, her opinion of fantasty, and whether she believes The Golden Compass might be able to influence the next genration of children.

Nicole Kidman on her opinion of fantasy and whether she shares any favorites with her kids:

"I'm not a huge fan of fantasy. I've always been drawn to - more in terms of filmmaking - I've been drawn to more psychological dramas, but I think what drew me to this was it had the intricacies of the characters allow strong performances, and that's what I found compelling about it. In terms of fairy tales, I grew up with a lot of literature because my mother always would read to me. So I think that... a lot of Roald Dahl, obviously "The Narnia Chronicles" and I really think that when you have a film like this that people feel so passionately about, it's wonderful that there's people in these films. I'm glad to be in a film where there's people and it's not just animated [laughs].

Kidman on the controversy surrounding the anti-Christian tone and whether she had concerns about the message:

"I think, for me, I don't believe that when you see the film that it will be the same. I think there's almost an alarmist approach to it right now and when you see the film that will be dissipated. That's simply put. I don't want to make a film that's anti-religious or anti-Catholic. I come from a Catholic family, so that's not something that my grandmother would be very happy about and I don't really think that's what I'm involved in, so..."

On whether she loves being bad and the elements that drive her to work so hard:

"I think when you get employed to do a job, even though, to me, this is more fun than a job, you have to give everything and do the best you can do. So in terms of working hard, I'm still in the middle of doing a film in Australia which I've been doing for nine months now and that's too hard. It's a long time and I'm looking forward to next year and just having a break. But at the same time, I'm so privileged, particularly... I'm 40 years old and I'm playing some of the greatest roles I've had the opportunity to play in the last couple of years. With Mrs. Coulter, I hope we get to make all three films because I love playing her and obviously it's just a tiny little bit of her right now. But if you know the rest of the trilogy, the way in which it explodes, opens up, and the layers of her are peeled away, are exciting to me. I see her as very complicated, so obviously she's morally questionable at times, but also, and it gives away the film if I talk about it too much, but there is a pulse in her heart beating her, that's driving her to do things. That's probably what I was insistent upon with Chris [Weitz] is that you could feel that pulsing through her at all times. Chris was so great with that because he was always trying to give me the opportunity to show the complexity of the woman. And Philip [Pullman] really spelled out a lot of her psychological makeup for me, which is just wonderful when you have the author available to you like that. So yeah, I hope we get to make the trilogy because that would be really exciting as an actor."

Kidman on the rumor that she initially turned down the role and stayed away from a villain:

"I think that must be in the press kit that I did not read properly, I'm sorry to say, but I'm glad you all did. I actually just didn't want to work when I originally was offered the part because I was at a place in my life where I was in Tennessee and I was just not that... feeling a little lazy and wanting to hang out. And then Chris actually sent me a letter and Philip Pullman sent me a letter and with those two letters I was seduced, and I'm really glad that I was, actually. It wasn't so much about the villain or the warm-fuzzy, it was more my own laziness."

Nicole Kidman on her inspiration for Mrs. Coulter:

"The books! Actually, I scoured the books. It's beautiful when you can find all the intricacies of her. I actually used a highlighter pen and I wrote it all out and I managed to paste together her history. It's wonderful having that. It's something you usually, as an actor, have to do by yourself."

Nicole Kidman Interview Page 2