In the world of Hollywood, Nicole Kidman seldom delves into her past with Tom Cruise.

Their union lasted from 1990—when they met on the set of Days of Thunder in late 1989—to 2001.

Initially, Cruise was a renowned star in the industry, while Kidman was a budding actress shaping her career; Days of Thunder marked her debut in American cinema.

However, in a recent feature for The Cut, Kidman sheds light on that phase of her life, revealing an unexpected outcome of being associated with a prominent movie star: his influence seemingly shielded her from encountering s**ual harassment.

Kidman shares, “I married out of love, but being with such a powerful figure prevented me from facing s**ual harassment.” She further explains, “I would engage in work, yet I still felt sheltered.

So when I emerged from that at 32, 33, it was as though I had to mature.”

Reflecting on their past relationship in the article, Kidman expresses the challenge of discussing it openly.

“Being married to Tom Cruise at 22 is a topic I often hesitate to touch upon, because I am now married to the man who holds my heart [Keith Urban], and it almost seems disrespectful,” she articulates.

Nonetheless, the current climate necessitates this dialogue, given the ongoing revelations within the industry concerning s**ual misconduct.

Kidman, like many women, acknowledges in the article that she has encountered “#MeToo moments” over the years, despite her marriage to Cruise—but she prefers to channel those experiences through her artistic endeavors.

“Certainly, I’ve faced #MeToo instances—from a young age!” she states.

“Yet, do I wish to reveal them in an article?

No.

Do they surface in my work?

Absolutely.

I’m candid and unfiltered.

I desire my reservoir of encounters and sentiments to be tapped into, utilized—and I’m not solely referring to s**ual harassment.

I’m encompassing themes of grief, demise, the entire spectrum of existence.”

This disclosure by Kidman is pertinent, considering one of her upcoming projects will delve into this narrative.

She is slated to portray Gretchen Carlson in Jay Roach’s forthcoming movie about Fox News.

In 2016, the network was embroiled in a s**ual harassment scandal following Carlson’s lawsuit against Roger Ailes, the network chief, who subsequently resigned from his position.

The involved parties later reached a settlement of $20 million.