Late American actress, comedian, model and producer Lucille Ball is the stuff of Hollywood legend - and now, a slice of her public and private life has been adapted for the silver screen, with Nicole Kidman in the starring role.
The prolific Aussie actress, known for her roles in Moulin Rouge!, The Golden Compass and Aquaman, is a career chameleon, nabbing an Oscar for playing Virginia Wolfe in The Hours and the recipient of numerous nominations and accolades.
Now in the hands of A-list writer and director Aaron Sorkin, Kidman is quite literally having a ball, slipping seamlessly into the shoes of the comic legend for the biographical drama, Being the Ricardos - with some help from her Kiwi acting coach.
Being the Ricardos is a revealing and incredibly entertaining slice of Ball's phenomenal small screen domination with the 1950s' sitcom I Love Lucy, exploring the leading lady's relationship with her co-star and husband, Desi Arnaz - all set to the inimitable beat of the Sorkin drum. And Kidman loved every minute of it.
Giving her the tools for the nuances of this role was Kidman's longtime acting coach, Miranda Harcourt. Here workshopping the local acting stars of tomorrow, the Wellingtonian worked tirelessly alongside Kidman to bring Lucille to life.
She messaged ahead of the interview with Kidman to offer a rare insight into the star's creative process.
"Nicole is just full of love as a human and she brings that generosity of spirit to all the other actors. I nearly had a little cry and she wasn't even talking about me," Harcourt said.
"She is such a good woman, and I'm so grateful to her but that's too nice."
"I love that she says that - about loving other actors - because that's what I live and breathe and so the idea of that being acknowledged is just beautiful," Kidman responded.
"This is my tribe, you know? I've worked with actors since I was 14 years old, that's what I know, they're the people I know, how we think and behave.
"It's gorgeous when you're on a set together and it's a very shared experience."
Ball's on-screen partner in comedy crime in front of, and away from the camera is Desi Arnez - portrayed by Spanish actor Javier Bardem.
One would think after decades working with Hollywood's elite, Kidman would be impossible to faze. Not so.
"OK, I'm acting opposite one of my heroes, Javier Bardem - having to show up for him and deliver, and I hope he thinks that I'm right there, you know, and hold his hand through it as well," Kidman said.
"I'm very very lucky to be surrounded by this sort of talent because I need it. I'm the recipient of this talent."
Talent - there is no shortage on show here.
Being the Ricardos has just landed on Amazon Prime.
