‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Mini-Series Starring Former Palisadian Nicole Kidman Premieres

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Former Palisadian Nicole Kidman has a starring role in the Hulu mini-series “Nine Perfect Strangers,” which kicked off its eight-episode run on August 18.

“Nine stressed city dwellers visit a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation,” according to a synopsis on IMDb. “The resort’s director is a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies.”

Kidman stars as resort leader Masha Dmitrichenko alongside Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Samara Weaving, Asher Keddie and Melvin Gregg. The cast is rounded out by Tiffany Bonne, Manny Jacinto, Grace Van Patten, Zoe Terakes, Regina Hall and Bobby Cannavale.

Kidman told People that she didn’t meet her castmates until the first day of filming, at which point she was immersed in her role.

“I didn’t really meet any of the people that were checking into Tranquillum House until the day we were shooting,” she said to People. “So when I came in and we shot the first episode first, it was pretty much like meeting all of them for the first time, and I stayed in character … I was very much Masha, and the way I related to everyone was through my shop.”

The show was created by John-Henry Butterworth and David E. Kelley, who reportedly just sold his Pacific Palisades home with Michelle Pfeiffer for $25 million. It is based on the eponymous 2018 novel by Liane Moriarty—who is also the author behind “Big Little Lies.” Kidman had a leading role in the HBO series based on that book as well.

Like other stories by Moriarty, viewers can anticipate some twists and turns as the story develops.

Directed by Jonathan Levine, the first three episodes of the show, which were all released on August 18, were titled “Random Acts of Mayhem,” “The Critical Path” and “Earth Day.” Subsequent episodes were set to air August 25, September 1, September 8 and September 15, with the final episode available September 22.

Filming for the series took place in Australia, with Evans reporting that all actors involved were required to quarantine for 14 days in the city of arrival due to regulations in place by the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography began on August 10, 2020, in Byron Bay, New South Wales, with Kidman announcing on December 21, 2020, that filming had wrapped.