Nicole Kidman is not a legend. So says a real legendary actress, Lauren Bacall.

Kidman, who stars with Bacall in “Birth,” was taken back when a reporter called Kidman a “screen legend.” They were promoting the film at a press conference at the Venice film festival.

As the story goes, countless questions were being directed at Kidman, who light-heartedly asked that the reporters ask some of the other cast members questions. A reporter finally had something to ask to Bacall.

“Now you’ve worked alongside another screen legend, Nicole Kidman,” she phrased the beginning her question.

Bacall then interrupted her and corrected her, as to what she feels is correct.

“She’s not a legend. She’s a beginner,” said Bacall. “What is this ‘legend?’ She can’t be a legend at whatever age she is. She can’t be a legend. You have to be older.”

Her comments however were not meant to attack Kidman, who she worked with in Dogville.

“That laid the groundwork for our fabulous relationship, on-screen and off,” Bacall said. “We were friends when we started this.”

The film has been involved in a field of controversy. The movie is about a woman, Anna (Kidman), who believes her dead husband has been reincarnated in a 10-year-old boy. One part that people are particularly upset about is a passionate scene where Kidman and the boy are both naked in a bath and share a kiss on the lips. The scene has been called “erotic” and “inappropriate.”

Kidman was booed when she arrived for a screening of the film in Venice, and people reportedly walked out midway through.

Despite the negativity surrounding the movie, Kidman defends the film.

“It wasn’t that I wanted to make a film where I kiss a 10-year-old boy,” she said at the press conference. “I wanted to make a film where you understand love. I read a lot of scripts and this is the one that spoke to me.”

The movie is still one of the top contenders for the “Golden Lion,” which is Venice’s top award and will be handed out later in the week.

This is the first Venice film festival for Bacall, who was married to Humphrey Bogart, even though she has appeared in 50 films.






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