So, everyone is talking about Nicole Kidman again. But this time, it isn't about her iconic AMC commercial or her latest high-fashion red carpet walk. It’s about a line of dialogue that has left audiences somewhere between stunned, confused, and deeply fascinated.
"I'm gonna pee—I don't want to pee."
If you haven’t seen the movie Babygirl, that sentence probably sounds like a bizarre overshare or a weird health update. It isn't. In the context of the film, it has become one of the most talked-about moments in recent cinema history. It’s raw. It’s awkward. Honestly, it’s exactly the kind of thing most Hollywood movies are too scared to show.
Why Nicole Kidman I Don't Want to Pee is the Line Everyone Remembers
The scene takes place in a nondescript hotel room. Kidman’s character, Romy—a high-powered CEO who usually has every single second of her life under a microscope—is with Samuel, played by Harris Dickinson. For the first time in her life, she is experiencing a physical release that she doesn't understand.
She's terrified.
👉 See also: Why Taylor Swift People Mag Covers Actually Define Her Career Eras
When she says "I don't want to pee," she isn't actually talking about a bathroom break. She’s experiencing the physical sensation that often precedes a female ejaculation or a particularly intense climax. Because she has spent her entire life repressed—literally faking it with her husband for two decades—she has no idea what is happening to her body. She thinks she’s losing control of her bladder.
It’s a masterclass in vulnerable acting. Kidman doesn't play it sexy in the traditional sense. She plays it with a mix of panic and confusion.
The Reality of the "Pee" Confusion
A lot of people watching the film were caught off guard. We’re used to movie sex being choreographed, silent, and perfectly lit. Real life? It’s messy.
Medical experts and intimacy coordinators have pointed out that the sensation of "needing to go" is actually a very common physiological response during high levels of arousal. The G-spot is located near the bladder, and the stimulation can trick the brain into sending a "full bladder" signal. By including this line, director Halina Reijn stripped away the "movie magic" and replaced it with something startlingly human.
✨ Don't miss: Does Emmanuel Macron Have Children? The Real Story of the French President’s Family Life
What This Scene Says About Romy (and Nicole)
Kidman has always been a risk-taker. Remember The Paperboy? She’s never been afraid of the "un-pretty" parts of being a woman. In Babygirl, that line is the turning point for her character.
- Loss of Control: Romy is a CEO. She manages hundreds of people. She controls her household. That moment of "I don't want to pee" is the first time she cannot control her own biology.
- The Age Gap Dynamic: The film explores the power shift between an older woman and a younger man. Samuel knows her body better than she knows it herself in that moment, which is both liberating and humiliating for her.
- Shame vs. Pleasure: Immediately after the scene, Romy breaks down. The line bridges the gap between the physical pleasure she’s feeling and the deep-seated shame she has been taught to feel about her own desires.
The Viral Impact and Memes
Of course, because it’s the internet, the phrase Nicole Kidman I don't want to pee started trending almost immediately after the film’s festival run. Some people mocked it. Others found it incredibly relatable.
But if you look past the initial "Wait, did she really say that?" factor, there’s a reason it stuck. It’s one of the few times a major A-list star has portrayed the actual, clumsy, confusing reality of female sexuality.
Kidman herself has spoken about how exhausting the film was to shoot. She told reporters at the Venice Film Festival that there were times she wanted to stop because it felt "too much." She felt exposed. And that’s exactly what makes the "pee" line work. It feels like something you weren't supposed to hear.
🔗 Read more: Judge Dana and Keith Cutler: What Most People Get Wrong About TV’s Favorite Legal Couple
Why It Matters for 2026 Cinema
We are seeing a shift. Audiences are tired of the sanitized, "Barbie-fied" version of relationships. We want the grit.
When a movie like Babygirl uses a line like that, it breaks the fourth wall of perfection. It reminds us that even someone as ethereal and "perfect" as Nicole Kidman can represent the awkward, vibrating, unpolished parts of being human.
Actionable Takeaways for Film Fans
If you're heading into a viewing of Babygirl or just trying to win a debate about it at brunch, keep these points in mind:
- Don't take it literally. It’s a physiological description of intense arousal, not a literal comment on hygiene.
- Watch the body language. Kidman’s performance in that specific scene relies more on her breath and her eyes than the words themselves.
- Context is everything. The line works because of Romy’s history of repression. Without the 19 years of "faking it" mentioned earlier in the film, the line wouldn't have the same emotional weight.
The next time you see a headline about Nicole Kidman I don't want to pee, you'll know it isn't just a tabloid "gotcha" moment. It’s actually one of the most honest pieces of screenwriting to hit the mainstream in years. It’s weird, it’s uncomfortable, and honestly? It’s about time movies got a little more honest about how bodies actually work.
If you want to understand the full scope of the performance, pay close attention to the scene immediately following the hotel encounter. The way Kidman transitions from that moment of physical peak to absolute emotional devastation tells you everything you need to know about why this movie—and that specific line—is so significant.