Nicole Kidman has not only made her “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” debut, she’s also entered the ring with Nick Offerman.
Episode 4 of the Apple TV series sees Jinx (Offerman) finding out about his Margo’s (Elle Fanning) new OnlyFans career when he walks in on a sexy photo shoot for her HungryGhost persona. His initial reaction? Pure judgment! The man urges his daughter not to be “one of those girls” who uses her sexuality to get what she wants, which, of course, enrages Margo, who is simply trying to make ends meet for her newborn son.
The pair agree to put their disagreement on the back burner, and they attend a wrestling convention together to try to bond. As they enjoy the theatrics unfolding around them, Jinx unexpectedly reunites with his old wrestling buddy, Lace (Nicole Kidman), who now practices law out in Costa Mesa.
But Lace hasn’t completely hung up her wrestling persona; she convinces Jinx to get back into the ring — these convention fans deserve a show! On stage, surrounded by cheering fans, the two circle each other — bobbing and weaving, I think is what they’d call it? — before Jinx grabs his opponent and flings her into the rope. Lace uses the momentum to kick her foe square in the chest, causing him to fall flat on his back. She pins him to the ground with the sole of her red laced-up wrestling boot and wins the match. (She also causes Jinx’s back to seize up, but he turns out to be fine.)
Nick Offerman says wrestling Nicole Kidman made him feel ‘like a mouse’
Though the pivotal Episode 4 scene that introduces Nicole Kidman’s character looks like a theatrical charade, it was serious athletic work that required three weeks of training, Nick Offerman told TVLine.
“I trained with Chavo Guerrero [Jr.], who’s a real wrestler, and he had a handful of pro wrestlers that worked so generously and patiently with us,” Offerman revealed.
Though Offerman got his reps in the ring ahead of filming, nothing could prepare him to face off with Kidman, a true Hollwood icon.
“Nicole Kidman is who she is for a reason,” Offerman said. “She is a true, real-life superhero.”
Offerman went on to celebrate Kidman’s work ethic, revealing that she was sick with the flu the day they filmed their Episode 4 fight.
“She wasn’t even gonna come, but she insisted on showing up and shooting every single thing we needed of her so that we didn’t lose the location and the day,” Offerman shared. “And then she went to the hospital and had an I.V. of fluids put in.”
“That’s how you get to be a movie star,” he declared.
Offerman admitted he “felt like a mouse” in the ring opposite Kidman, but called the experience “a treat” nonetheless.
“Whoever thought that I would get beat up in a wrestling match by Nicole Kidman?” he asked in disbelief.
Book fans, are you enjoying the introduction of Nicole Kidman’s Lace, a character who was not in the book? Watch our full Q&A with Offerman and executive producer Eva Anderson above, then sound off in the comments!