Nicole Kidman Checked with Naomi Watts Before DoingThe Perfect Couplewith Her Ex Liev Schreiber: ‘That’s How Close They Are’

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber.Photo:Getty(3)Nicole Kidmanchecked in withNaomi Wattsbefore accepting her latest role — asLiev Schreiber’s onscreen wife.While promoting the Netflix limited seriesThe Perfect Couple, Kidman, 57, and Schreiber, 56, toldEntertainment Tonightabout their reactions to being cast together as Mr. and Mrs. Winbury.Kidman joked that she had to “beg” Schreiber to “marry” her. TheRay Donovanactor, meanwhile, said, “I heard a story that you asked Naomi first if it was okay.” Kidman confirmed that she did, to which Schreiber replied: “Isn’t that amazing? That’s how close they are.“Watts, 55, meanwhile, confirmed that theBig Little Liesstar did get in touch with her aboutThe Perfect Couplerole.“We always check in, we’re besties,” Watts toldEntertainment Weeklyduring theToronto International Film Festivalwhile promotingThe Friend.“That was very kind of her to do that.“Liev Schreiber and Nicole Kidman at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Perfect Couple’ on Sept. 4, 2024.Charley Gallay/GettyWatts and Schreiberwere together from 2005 until 2016. They have maintained an amicable relationship since,reuniting many timesfor theirtwo kids, Sasha and Kai.Kidman and Watts' friendship goes back more than 30 years. When presenting Kidman with the AFI Life Achievement Award in April, Watts shared thatthe pair met in the 1980s at an audition for a swimsuit commercial.While waiting to find out who got the role, they talked. “We covered everything, what movies we loved, what friends we had in common, our parents, schools, parties, boyfriends, teenage stuff,” Watts recalled.When they were told they were free to go after not getting the role, Kidman offered to cover a taxi ride home for Watts, who had missed the bus. She called Kidman “the most generous person.““She’s opened up her homes to me. She’s made me feel like part of her family. She was like the sister I’d never had,” Watts added.The friendsappeared together in the movieFlirtingin 1991, andhave remained close since.Watts wished “queen” Kidman a happy birthdayon June 20. Meanwhile, Kidman attended Watts'“fun, beautiful” and “deeply memorable” wedding to Billy Crudupin June.Nicole Kidman (left) and Naomi Watts in April 2024.Jon Kopaloff/GettyThe official synopsis forThe Perfect Couplereads: “Amelia Sacks is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket. Her disapproving future mother-in-law, famous novelist Greer Garrison Winbury [Kidman], has spared no expense in planning what promises to be the premiere wedding of the season — until a body turns up on the beach.“As secrets come to light, the stage is set for a real-life investigation that feels plucked from the pages of one of Greer’s novels,” the synopsis continues. “Suddenly, everyone is a suspect.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.All six episodes ofThe Perfect Coupleare available to stream on Netflix.

From left: Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber.Photo:Getty(3)

Getty(3)

Nicole Kidmanchecked in withNaomi Wattsbefore accepting her latest role — asLiev Schreiber’s onscreen wife.While promoting the Netflix limited seriesThe Perfect Couple, Kidman, 57, and Schreiber, 56, toldEntertainment Tonightabout their reactions to being cast together as Mr. and Mrs. Winbury.Kidman joked that she had to “beg” Schreiber to “marry” her. TheRay Donovanactor, meanwhile, said, “I heard a story that you asked Naomi first if it was okay.” Kidman confirmed that she did, to which Schreiber replied: “Isn’t that amazing? That’s how close they are.“Watts, 55, meanwhile, confirmed that theBig Little Liesstar did get in touch with her aboutThe Perfect Couplerole.“We always check in, we’re besties,” Watts toldEntertainment Weeklyduring theToronto International Film Festivalwhile promotingThe Friend.“That was very kind of her to do that.“Liev Schreiber and Nicole Kidman at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Perfect Couple’ on Sept. 4, 2024.Charley Gallay/GettyWatts and Schreiberwere together from 2005 until 2016. They have maintained an amicable relationship since,reuniting many timesfor theirtwo kids, Sasha and Kai.Kidman and Watts' friendship goes back more than 30 years. When presenting Kidman with the AFI Life Achievement Award in April, Watts shared thatthe pair met in the 1980s at an audition for a swimsuit commercial.While waiting to find out who got the role, they talked. “We covered everything, what movies we loved, what friends we had in common, our parents, schools, parties, boyfriends, teenage stuff,” Watts recalled.When they were told they were free to go after not getting the role, Kidman offered to cover a taxi ride home for Watts, who had missed the bus. She called Kidman “the most generous person.““She’s opened up her homes to me. She’s made me feel like part of her family. She was like the sister I’d never had,” Watts added.The friendsappeared together in the movieFlirtingin 1991, andhave remained close since.Watts wished “queen” Kidman a happy birthdayon June 20. Meanwhile, Kidman attended Watts'“fun, beautiful” and “deeply memorable” wedding to Billy Crudupin June.Nicole Kidman (left) and Naomi Watts in April 2024.Jon Kopaloff/GettyThe official synopsis forThe Perfect Couplereads: “Amelia Sacks is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket. Her disapproving future mother-in-law, famous novelist Greer Garrison Winbury [Kidman], has spared no expense in planning what promises to be the premiere wedding of the season — until a body turns up on the beach.“As secrets come to light, the stage is set for a real-life investigation that feels plucked from the pages of one of Greer’s novels,” the synopsis continues. “Suddenly, everyone is a suspect.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.All six episodes ofThe Perfect Coupleare available to stream on Netflix.

Nicole Kidmanchecked in withNaomi Wattsbefore accepting her latest role — asLiev Schreiber’s onscreen wife.

While promoting the Netflix limited seriesThe Perfect Couple, Kidman, 57, and Schreiber, 56, toldEntertainment Tonightabout their reactions to being cast together as Mr. and Mrs. Winbury.

Kidman joked that she had to “beg” Schreiber to “marry” her. TheRay Donovanactor, meanwhile, said, “I heard a story that you asked Naomi first if it was okay.” Kidman confirmed that she did, to which Schreiber replied: “Isn’t that amazing? That’s how close they are.”

Watts, 55, meanwhile, confirmed that theBig Little Liesstar did get in touch with her aboutThe Perfect Couplerole.

“We always check in, we’re besties,” Watts toldEntertainment Weeklyduring theToronto International Film Festivalwhile promotingThe Friend.“That was very kind of her to do that.”

Liev Schreiber and Nicole Kidman at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Perfect Couple’ on Sept. 4, 2024.Charley Gallay/Getty

Charley Gallay/Getty

Watts and Schreiberwere together from 2005 until 2016. They have maintained an amicable relationship since,reuniting many timesfor theirtwo kids, Sasha and Kai.

Kidman and Watts' friendship goes back more than 30 years. When presenting Kidman with the AFI Life Achievement Award in April, Watts shared thatthe pair met in the 1980s at an audition for a swimsuit commercial.

While waiting to find out who got the role, they talked. “We covered everything, what movies we loved, what friends we had in common, our parents, schools, parties, boyfriends, teenage stuff,” Watts recalled.

When they were told they were free to go after not getting the role, Kidman offered to cover a taxi ride home for Watts, who had missed the bus. She called Kidman “the most generous person.”

“She’s opened up her homes to me. She’s made me feel like part of her family. She was like the sister I’d never had,” Watts added.

The friendsappeared together in the movieFlirtingin 1991, andhave remained close since.Watts wished “queen” Kidman a happy birthdayon June 20. Meanwhile, Kidman attended Watts'“fun, beautiful” and “deeply memorable” wedding to Billy Crudupin June.

Nicole Kidman (left) and Naomi Watts in April 2024.Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

The official synopsis forThe Perfect Couplereads: “Amelia Sacks is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket. Her disapproving future mother-in-law, famous novelist Greer Garrison Winbury [Kidman], has spared no expense in planning what promises to be the premiere wedding of the season — until a body turns up on the beach.

“As secrets come to light, the stage is set for a real-life investigation that feels plucked from the pages of one of Greer’s novels,” the synopsis continues. “Suddenly, everyone is a suspect.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

All six episodes ofThe Perfect Coupleare available to stream on Netflix.

source: people.com