Tuesday, September 29, 1998 Published at 13:54 GMT 14:54 UK
'Weak eyes helped me beat stage fright' - Kidman
Kidman: Rave reviews for sexy role in The Blue Room
Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has admitted her poor eyesight helped her combat stage fright during her West End debut because she could not see the audience.
The star, who has to strip regularly for her acclaimed performance in The Blue Room, said she had an attack of first night jitters half an hour before going on stage.
"I couldn't believe I was doing this! So I thought, `Well, if I fall on my face, I fall on my face'," she said.
"I've never worked so hard in my life - six weeks in rehearsal - but it is exhilarating. Of course, it was nerve-wracking. But the great thing about theatre as opposed to movies, is every night you can do something new."
"Physically and mentally, everything was taken out of me leading up to the opening of the play - a lot of stress. But it's now one of the best times for me," she said.
The actress has spent most of the past two years living in the UK with husband Tom Cruise and their two small children while working on the film Eyes Wide Shut with reclusive movie maker Stanley Kubrick.
The director of A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket is planning to see the show. "He is coming in this week. I'll be very nervous," said Kidman.
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