Are all Australian filmmakers and actors friends? On an episode of the WTF with Marc Maron back in 2013, Maron shared a theory with guest Nick Cave that everyone who comes from Australian and has achieved “a certain level of celebrity” must know each other. Cave almost immediately proved his point correct, confirming his friendship with Russell Crowe before discussing his script idea for a Gladiator sequel. Maron’s theory has stuck with me in the intervening years; doesn’t it seem like everyone in Hollywood from Australia seems to be personal friends with each other? It can’t be that small a country, right?

Case in point: Nicole Kidman. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly (via The Wrap), Kidman admitted that her friendship with director James Wan  —  who originally hails from Australia himself  —  was one of the main reasons why she decided to join the cast of Aquaman. Of course, there was a second, more fun reason as well:

The reason why I love [Aquaman] is James Wan is an Australian, and I’ve followed his career since he started. He’s a really good friend of mine, and he offered to let me play Queen Atlanna. As soon as he said I could wear mother-of-pearl and be a mermaid warrior, I said I’m done. Please. If there is one thing I have to do in my life, I have to be that. Because, you’ve got to have some fun.

Since every superhero movie these days seems to star one actor who is, to put it kindly, a little out of their league — Cate Blanchett in Thor: Ragnarok, Robin Wright in Wonder Woman, Robert Redford in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Viola Davis in Suicide Squad all come to mind  —  Kidman’s comments are a welcome reminder that not everyone makes superhero movies because they need to. Sometimes, an actor just wants to put on mother-of-pearl and stab people with a trident. Kudos to Kidman for going out and getting exactly what she wants, and thanks for keeping my Australia conspiracy theories alive in the process.

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