Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman recently shared a humorous but slightly awkward behind-the-scenes story about one of her most uncomfortable on-screen kissing scenes. During a candid interview, the Hollywood star revealed that the moment happened while filming the hit TV series Big Little Lies alongside her co-star Alexander Skarsgård.
Kidman explained that the issue wasn’t the actor himself but rather something far simpler — his breath. The actress admitted she has a very strong sense of smell and finds bad breath extremely difficult to tolerate, even when working professionally on intimate scenes.
The Falafel Incident on Set
According to Kidman, the awkward moment happened when Skarsgård ate a falafel sandwich shortly before they were scheduled to film a kissing scene for the HBO drama. The strong smell made the scene more difficult for her than expected. Kidman joked that she immediately told him to “put away the falafel” because she was supposed to look romantic and attracted to him in the scene. She recalled telling him that foods with strong smells were not ideal right before filming intimate moments. Although the comment was made in a light-hearted way, Kidman said the situation highlighted just how sensitive she is to smells. She even joked that the experience probably convinced her co-star to avoid falafel before filming similar scenes in the future.
Bad Breath Is a Deal-Breaker
During the interview, Kidman also admitted that bad breath is a major deal-breaker for her in general. She explained that no matter how attractive someone might be, unpleasant breath immediately ruins the moment for her. She described how she reacts if someone with bad breath gets too close, saying she instantly pulls away. The actress emphasized that smell plays a huge role in how she perceives people and situations. Kidman even joked that when she temporarily lost her sense of smell during COVID-19, she felt strangely relieved because it meant she didn’t have to worry about unpleasant odors for a while. Eventually, however, her sense of smell returned.
A Complicated Relationship on Screen
Interestingly, Kidman and Skarsgård played a married couple in Big Little Lies. Their characters, Celeste and Perry Wright, appeared to have a perfect life from the outside, but the storyline revealed a deeply troubled and abusive relationship. Despite the awkward moment during filming, both actors received major praise for their performances. Their roles in the series even earned them Emmy Awards, proving that the uncomfortable behind-the-scenes moment didn’t affect the quality of the final performance.
A Funny Hollywood Confession
Kidman shared the story in a humorous tone, and many fans found the confession relatable. Even in glamorous Hollywood productions, actors still deal with everyday situations like food smells or awkward timing before filming romantic scenes. The anecdote also gave fans a rare glimpse into the realities of filming intimate scenes. While these moments often appear perfectly romantic on screen, the reality on set can be far more practical — and sometimes unintentionally funny. For Kidman, the lesson is simple: if you’re about to film a kissing scene with her, you might want to skip strong-smelling foods first.
