Kidman Kicks Up Heels at United Nations

By Stephen M. Silverman

Tuesday April 27, 2004 09:00 AM EDT

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Yahoo Buzz
• E-mail

Nicole Kidman exercised a little international diplomacy Monday night when she mingled among the world's top diplomats during a break from The Interpreter, the new movie she's filming at the United Nations' New York headquarters Monday night, reports Reuters.

Although Kidman's reclusive costar Sean Penn shied away from the shindig, Kidman and her director, Sydney Pollack (Tootsie, Out of Africa), faced a crush of about 500 guests. Also in attendance were Australia's U.N. ambassador John Dauth and its New York consul-general, Kenneth Allen.

Kidman, 36, is an Aussie, while Pollack, 69, is a native New Yorker.

The Oscar winner, who plays an interpreter who overhears an assassination plot (and becomes a target herself), expressed her enjoyment at being able to make a movie at the usually off-limits -- to film crews -- U.N., although, she admitted, being restricted to shooting only on weekends was somewhat unusual.

"It is a wonderful script, wonderful characters, believe me," Kidman said.

"It's an alternative to violence," said Pollack, who had to assure Secretary-General Kofi Annan before filming that the movie (due to open in November) would not conflict with U.N. values. "I hope it is going to justify your trust in giving us this place," he told the ambassadors over cocktails.