Nicole Kidman, renowned for her grace on the red carpet, revealed her past struggles with body image in the new Hulu docuseries In Vogue: The 90s, which premiered on September 13. The series explores the transformative fashion era of the 1990s, offering an in-depth look at Vogue magazine and its influential editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.
In the third episode of the series, designer John Galliano discussed his quest to make a significant impact on the fashion world following Princess Diana’s iconic 1996 Met Gala appearance. Galliano chose Kidman to showcase his design at the 1997 Oscars, marking a pivotal moment in her career.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Kidman shared her youthful insecurities about her body. “Can you believe it?” Kidman exclaimed. “My whole life, I wanted to be 5’2” and curvaceous, and suddenly, being 5’11 and skinny with a flat chest was seen as perfect for fashion.”
She expressed admiration for past icons like Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, whose styles were closely associated with their designers. Kidman emphasized her desire to see Hollywood embrace high fashion in the same way, noting, “I grew up watching these women whose styles were defined by their designers, and I thought, why can’t we bring that into Hollywood now?”
Kidman also described her experience debuting Galliano’s dress as a fairytale moment. “I was a red-headed, fair-skinned girl nearly 5’11” at 14, and I faced a lot of teasing,” she recalled. “Every time I was given access to that world, it felt like stepping into a fantasy.”
The docuseries highlights how the 1990s established the close relationship between designers and celebrities that continues to dominate red-carpet fashion today. The first three episodes of In Vogue: The 90s are available now, with the final three set to premiere on September 20. The full six-part series will be available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.