Nicole Kidman pushed through one of her toughest first days on set, and it ended with a hospital trip.
The Oscar-winning actress, 58, makes her first appearance as Lace in Apple TV+’s ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ in the April 22 episode, but according to co-star Nick Offerman, getting those scenes done was nearly a disaster. Kidman was reportedly battling a brutal case of the flu on the same day the production had built a massive wrestling convention sequence around her character, complete with hundreds of extras and a packed shooting schedule. For a moment, it looked like the whole thing might collapse.
Nicole Kidman Showed Up Sick for a Huge First Scene
Offerman said the cast and crew were told early that morning that Kidman might not make it. The scene was a major one, featuring Lace reuniting with his character Jinx during a wrestling fan convention attended by Jinx’s daughter, Margo, played by Elle Fanning.
“We’re there in the morning, we’re getting warmed up,” Offerman recalled, explaining that some of the cast were preparing for actual wrestling elements with doubles and stunt support in place. Then came the worrying update: Kidman had the flu and might not be able to film.
That changed a few hours later. By around 11 a.m., word came in that she was on her way.
Offerman said Kidman arrived looking seriously ill. “She was so pale, shaken. She just had the flu really so bad.” Still, he said, she got through every shot production needed and made sure the day was not lost.
Her Day Ended With a Hospital Trip
What makes the story hit harder is what happened after filming wrapped. According to Offerman, Kidman was “literally taken to the hospital for an IV” once her work was done.
He praised her for refusing to let the production lose momentum, saying the effort was “so generous” and “astonishing.” In his view, that kind of commitment is exactly why Kidman has stayed at the top for so long.
Kidman herself also spoke about preparing for the role, saying she trained before filming because she was initially worried about getting injured in the wrestling scenes. Once she got in the ring, though, that hesitation disappeared. “Okay, let’s go,” she said, adding that she tends to stop thinking about protecting herself once she is fully in the moment.
She also credited Offerman for helping her feel safe in the ring and admitted she would gladly do more wrestling in the future.
The series, based on Rufi Thorpe’s 2024 novel, stars Elle Fanning as Margo, a struggling young mother trying to stay afloat while dealing with a baby, rising bills, and limited options. With Michelle Pfeiffer, David E. Kelley, and a stacked cast also involved, the show already had plenty going for it. Now it has a Nicole Kidman hospital story too.
