Taye Diggs on getting his groove back in ‘Forever': ‘This role was very therapeutic for me'
So says Taye Diggs of Terry McMillan, the writer-producer who catapulted him to stardom in 1998 with How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
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Reflecting on that period of his life, the 54-year-old actor remembers fully expecting to become a star. "I don't know who I thought I was," he recalls with a laugh (watch our full video interview above). "I remember graduating from college and saying, 'I'm going straight to the top.' When I got Rent (on Broadway) I was like, 'OK, when is the next movie coming?' I don't know where I got that confidence from because I don't have it anymore."
Looking to get his own groove back, Diggs reunited with his old friend in Lifetime's Terry McMillan Presents: Forever. Diggs served as an executive producer with McMillan and star, playing Johnnie, a military veteran who falls head over heels for a local policewoman named Carlie (Meagan Good). Home for the first time in years, Johnnie must learn to let go of old grudges to find the true meaning of love and family — while earning the approval of Carlie's three daughters.
While playing the complex character, Diggs was able to pull from his own life experiences like never before. "After having been tossed around a bit, married, divorced, in great relationships, and in some pretty horrible ones, I was able to use all of that in this piece. I didn't know that I had some of that pain within me. This role ended up being very therapeutic for me."
Diggs calls this film "one of the most emotional and tumultuous stories" he's been a part of. Johnnie grapples with Carlie's illness, recovery, and shocking death during a convenience store robbery. "I like to have fun," he says. "I enjoyed doing this film, but I'm not a sadist or a masochist. I don't like to inflict pain and I don't like to feel it. As freeing as it was, I did not enjoy the emotional scenes because I was able to draw on my own emotional experiences. Whenever you have to bring up stuff that isn't pleasant, it's never fun, but it was useful. I'm grateful for that. I was able to pull from my life experience."
The actor was also grateful to portray a positive character with high moral standards on the screen. "Playing African-American characters, very rarely do you see men and fathers portrayed in such a glowing manner. That was wonderful. It was also a character to whom I aspire."
As a single man, Diggs says his onscreen partnership with Meagan Good brought out all kinds of emotions in him. "She was so amazing, and the script was so great, that it actually made me miss having a girlfriend," he says. "I attribute that to her and the writing. You forget some of the positive aspects of being in a relationship. The relationship in this film was so healthy. It reminded me that there are some good elements to relationships as well."
Speaking more about the script, Diggs can only laugh when thinking about the devastating roller-coaster ride viewers experienced watching the movie. "I'm not attracted to roles like that. That's why I had to do it," he says. "I'm not going to do it again! But I needed to do this because people needed to go on this ride. I knew there would be work in this that hadn't been touched on before — and I'm getting older — there's not much that I haven't done. I jumped at the opportunity to be in something that showed more vulnerability."
Now a 2025 Emmys contender for Forever, Diggs had to be reminded that he already has a Critics Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Chicago, as well as two NAACP Image Awards for Kevin Hill and Private Practice.
"I gotta remind myself, shoot!" he jokes before thinking back on the first award he ever won. "Basketball — what is that called? He gave his all (team spirit)! I got that on the seventh-grade B team."
Next up, Diggs is heading back to Broadway to join Wayne Brady in Moulin Rouge! Diggs will play the Duke of Monroth from July 22 to Sept. 28 at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre. "I'm very excited for that," he shares before admitting he still gets nervous. "Right before I step on stage the thought of 'Why did I decide to do this?' will be in my head. Once I get out there I'm cool, but right before, oh my lord. That doesn't go away."
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Business Insider
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The 31 best Nicole Kidman movie performances, ranked by critics
Kidman played Lady Sarah Ashley in "Australia" (2008). Rotten Tomatoes score: 54% After inheriting a cattle ranch, Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) teams up with "The Drover" (Hugh Jackman) to run a cattle drive across the Australian Outback as the world sits on the brink of World War II. Critics said Kidman's second collaboration with director Baz Luhrmann fell short of their first project, Moulin Rouge. "Luhrmann has never been afraid to go big, and with this, his long-awaited follow-up to 2001's 'Moulin Rouge,' his canvas stretches as wide as the continent it chronicles. But the bigger the scope and the bigger the ambition, the less control Luhrmann seems to have over his epic productions," Kimberley Jones wrote for the Austin Chronicle. Critics didn't love "The Prom" (2020), but appreciated Kidman's performance as Angie Dickinson. Rotten Tomatoes score: 54% In this musical comedy, Angie (Kidman), a Broadway actor, joins her fellow performers in supporting a teenage girl from Indiana whose prom was cancelled after she planned to attend with another girl. Some critics said the movie lacked the impact and self-discovery it aimed for, but was still a feel-good film that showcased Kidman's range as an actor. "Her 'Zazz' number has an effervescent sweetness that soars. It's a risky, goofy, indelible performance," Donald Munro wrote for the Munro Review. The film "Malice" (1993), features Kidman as Tracy. Rotten Tomatoes score: 55% The life of a happy couple, Tracy (Kidman) and Andy (Bill Pullman), is derailed after Tracy has a traumatic hospital experience at the hands of Dr. Jed Hill (Alec Baldwin). Critics largely thought the film's premise was ridiculous, but said the central actors deftly kept up with the snappy dialogue. "'Malice' belongs to its trio of leads — all giving terrific performances, with Kidman's transitions creating an especially memorable screen portrait," Malcolm Johnson wrote for the Hartford Courant. The actor starred as Silvia Broome in "The Interpreter" (2005). Rotten Tomatoes score: 57% In this political thriller, interpreter Silvia Broome (Kidman) becomes the suspect in an assassination plot against the president of Matobo (Earl Cameron) — even as she races to stop it. Some critics wrote off "The Interpreter" as confusing and far-fetched, but thought Kidman's performance was a saving grace. "Despite a script that at times seems a little too pretentious, 'The Interpreter' benefits from strong work by Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn and a great sequence that is as tense as any in recent memory," Micheal Compton wrote for the Bowling Green Daily News. Kidman played Nadia in "Birthday Girl" (2001). Rotten Tomatoes score: 59% Ordinary banker John (Ben Chaplin) never had luck with love, so he orders a Russian mail-order bride named Nadia (Kidman) over the internet. When her cousins show up for her birthday, John's life takes an unexpected turn. The quality of the film itself was called into question by critics, but many thought Kidman's performance was worth the price of admission. "'Birthday Girl' is a movie that depends on one element, and one element alone: its leading lady, Nicole Kidman," Andrew Manning wrote for Radio Free Entertainment. "Though the story is completely predictable from beginning to end, the versatile actress brings the goods in force, making an otherwise bland film spring to life." Kidman entered the DC universe as Atlanna in "Aquaman" (2018). Rotten Tomatoes score: 66% As the illegitimate son of Altanna (Kidman), queen of Atlantis, and a lighthouse keeper, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) steps up to accept his place as prince and bring peace to Atlantis. " Aquaman" was largely received as a middle-of-the-road superhero film with a strong cast. "Even graced with the charming company of Momoa and Nicole Kidman, who is having a blast playing his high-kicking, otherworldly mother, the timing and tone of this movie is consistently off," Oliver Jones wrote for The Observer. She played Judy in "BMX Bandits" (1983). Rotten Tomatoes score: 67% Australian teens P.J. (Angelo D'Angelo) and Goose (James Lugton) race BMX bikes across Sydney and stumble upon a gang of criminals with their friend Judy (Kidman). Although the script needed some polish, critics conceded that Kidman's performance made "BMX Bandits" worth the watch. In 2021, Stuff's James Croot wrote that the film "proved Australia could create a kidult movie as slick and entertaining as the best Hollywood had to offer. Plus, it introduced the world to Nicole Kidman." In "The Railway Man" (2013), the star played Patricia. Rotten Tomatoes score: 67% Former British army officer and POW Eric Lomax (Colin Firth) sets out with his wife (Kidman) to confront the man who tortured him during World War II. With clunky pacing, "The Railway Man" received mixed reviews from critics. "Although Ms. Kidman is radiant, her character is just a catalyst for Lomax's recovery and redemption. Besides being an empathetic helpmate and angel of compassion who gently coaxes him to confront his demons, she barely exists," Stephen Holden wrote for the New York Times. Kidman transformed into Gretchen Carlson in "Bombshell" (2019). Rotten Tomatoes score: 67% Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), Gretchen Carlson (Kidman), and Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie) set out to expose Fox News CEO Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) for sexual harassment. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the strong performances but finding the overall execution of the story merely average. "It's a tricky line to walk, but the film mostly gets it right, helped immeasurably by its performances, particularly the central trio of Theron, Kidman, and Robbie," Dan Bayer wrote for Next Best Picture. She played Lucille Ball in the biopic, "Being the Ricardos" (2021). Rotten Tomatoes score: 68% Lucille Ball (Kidman) deals with tabloid rumors about her husband Desi Arnaz's (Javier Bardem) infidelity as they navigate their respective careers in show business. Although the film itself didn't garner high praise, critics pinpointed Kidman's central performance as a highlight of the biopic. "Not only does she get the tone of Ball right, Kidman also captures the comedy star's forthright energy, an essential fearlessness and truthfulness about herself that Sorkin also evidently admires," Amber Wilkinson wrote for The Times. In the 2013 psychological thriller "Stoker," Kidman played Evelyn. Rotten Tomatoes score: 70% India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) is reeling from the loss of her father (Dermot Mulroney) when her suspicious uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) moves in with her and her mother (Kidman). Critics described "Stoker" as a classic psychological thriller, with many agreeing it has a Hitchcock-inspired vibe. "Nicole Kidman gives one of her patent-pending, ethereal-neurotic performances as the recently widowed Evelyn Stoker," Marc Mohan wrote for Oregon Live. In "Dogville" (2003) she delivered a memorable performance as Grace. Rotten Tomatoes score: 70% A mysterious woman, Grace (Kidman), seeks refuge in a small town, where her efforts to earn the townspeople's favor lead to contempt and abuse. "Dogville" was largely hailed as an unforgettable exploration of greed and cruelty, framed by a killer performance from Kidman. "Kidman, in a performance as emotionally stark as any she's ever given, makes Grace's journey achingly real, even though everything around her is deliberately artificial," James Sanford wrote for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Kidman played Ada Monroe in the historical drama, "Cold Mountain" (2003). Rotten Tomatoes score: 70% During the American Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier (Jude Law) journeys home to reunite with his wife Ada (Kidman) while she struggles to maintain their farm with the help of mysterious woman (Renée Zellweger). Although critics had mixed opinions on the film, it was largely received as a successful drama. "Kidman and Law share almost no screen time together, which harms the film," Christopher Smith wrote for the Bangor Daily News. "Still, there are moments that are sufficiently ablaze, and make 'Cold Mountain' a worthwhile diversion." The star portrayed Erin Bell in "Destroyer" (2018). Rotten Tomatoes score: 74% Worn-out detective Erin Bell (Kidman) hunts down the leader of a gang she once infiltrated, seeking justice and redemption. The gritty mystery-thriller movie was praised for Kidman's exceptional multi-layered performance. "I have to say I find Kidman's performance superb: smart, committed, utterly absorbing," Peter Bradshaw wrote for The Guardian. Kidman starred as Satine in "Moulin Rouge" (2001). Rotten Tomatoes score: 75% In this jukebox musical set in 1890s Paris, a young writer named Christian (Ewan McGregor) falls in love with Satine (Kidman) — a dancer at the Moulin Rouge who harbors a deadly secret. Filtered through director Baz Luhrmann's distinctive lens, " Moulin Rouge" is largely considered an unforgettable piece of cinema. "Kidman owns this movie and steals scene after scene from her co-stars with a sizzling and scandalous performance," Gary Wolcott wrote for the Tri-City Herald. In "Happy Feet" (2006) she was the voice of Norma. Rotten Tomatoes score: 76% A sweet penguin named Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood) — the son of Memphis (voiced by Hugh Jackman) and Norma (voiced by Kidman) — can't carry a musical note, but he finds joy in tapping his feet. Filled with lofty ideals, themes, and heart, "Happy Feet" was received as more than a simple family film. Jonathan Alexander of WatchMojo praised Kidman's performance, writing, "She has a natural warmth to her voice that conveys a deep motherly love, even though her screen time is limited." The actor was cast as Alice in "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999). Rotten Tomatoes score: 76% After his wife Alice (Kidman) says she has sexual fantasies about another man, Dr. Bill Hartford (Tom Cruise) becomes entangled in an underground sexual group, where he quickly realizes he's out of his depth. Critics agreed that "Eyes Wide Shut" was a trademark Stanley Kubrick flick — and one that allowed Kidman to really shine. "Kidman is consistently excellent. This is the most powerful role she has taken on throughout a varied career," James Berardinelli wrote for ReelViews. In the erotic thriller "Babygirl" (2024), Kidman played Romy. Rotten Tomatoes score: 76% High-profile CEO Romy Mathis (Kidman) risks her career and family life when she starts a passionate affair with her intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson). Critics said that Kidman and Dickinson's performances elevated this erotic-thriller film. "Babygirl' is Kidman's best performance since 'Big Little Lies,'" Natasha Alvar wrote for The Fiction Department. "Unfortunately, the film itself is a bit too uneven to land anywhere but the middle." She took on the role of Miss Farnsworth in "The Beguiled" (2017). Rotten Tomatoes score: 79% Injured Union soldier John McBurney (Colin Farrell) seeks refuge at a Southern all-girls boarding school run by Miss Farnsworth (Kidman). There, rivalries erupt as the women care for him. This remake of the 1971 film was hailed as a feminist take on an age-old story. "Kidman firmly re-establishes her reputation as a proper screen heavyweight," Chris Wasser wrote for The Herald. Kidman played Anna in "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" (2017). Rotten Tomatoes score: 79% Renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell) is married to Anna (Kidman), but their perfect life unravels after the son of a former patient (Barry Keoghan) threatens the family with morbid vengeance. Critics described "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" as a nightmarish fairytale filtered through Yorgos Lanthimos' distinctive directive lens. "Nicole Kidman is just jaw-dropping," Emma Wolfe praised in a video for Spooky Astronauts. The actor starred as Nancy in "Boy Erased" (2018). Rotten Tomatoes score: 80% After being outed as gay in his Baptist community, Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges) faces tension with his religious parents (Kidman and Russell Crowe) and finds unexpected acceptance after being sent to a conversion therapy program. Critics said that the drama was elevated by towering performances from Hedges and Kidman. "Kidman delivers a delicate and nuanced performance as usual," Leah Pickett wrote for the Chicago Reader. Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in "The Hours" (2002). Rotten Tomatoes score: 80% The film follows three women — Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep), and Virginia Woolf (Kidman) — who grapple with depression, facing similar crises across nearly 80 years. "The Hours" earned rave reviews as a series of intense, illuminating character studies. "Kidman's acting is superlative, full of passion and feeling," Peter Travers wrote for Rolling Stone. In the emotional thriller "Dead Calm" (1989), Kidman played Rae Ingram. Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% After the death of their son, Rae Ingram (Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill) take an extended vacation on their yacht. However, while out at sea, they discover a sinking sailboat and save the lone survivor, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane), who claims the crew was killed by food poisoning. The emotional thriller was widely praised by critics. "Throughout the film, Kidman is excellent," the Variety staff wrote. "She gives the character of Rae real tenacity and energy." Kidman played Grace in "The Others" (2001). Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% During World War II, Grace (Kidman) relocates her family to the English coast while shielding her children from a rare photosensitivity disorder. As she awaits news of her missing husband (Christopher Eccleston) Grace's world unravels when her daughter claims to see ghosts. "The Others" was hailed as a top-notch suspense film with a thrilling twist. Variety's Dennis Harvey praised Kidman's performance, writing, "Like great silver-screen stars of yore, Kidman does more than act here: She fascinates, holding camera and viewers spellbound." The actor played Annie in "The Family Fang" (2015). Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% After falling for their parents' hoaxes for many years, Baxter (Jason Bateman) and Annie Fang (Kidman) must determine if their missing parents are truly gone. Critics thought "The Family Fang" was buoyed by excellent acting performances. "Kidman has her best screen out I think since ' Rabbit Hole' earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination, and the role itself is understated and perfectly pitched," Pete Hammond wrote for Deadline. "This is an actress that just keeps working and keeps impressing me more all the time with her choices of material." Kidman delivered a moving performance as Sue Brierley in "Lion" (2016). Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% After being separated from his family in India and adopted by Australian parents (David Wenham and Kidman), Saroo Brierley (Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel) uses Google Earth to find his family and way back home 25 years later. Sad and beautiful all at once, "Lion" left many critics wiping away tears. "Extraordinary performances, particularly from young Pawar, Patel, and Kidman, create a memorable and emotional story of family, identity, and the need we all have to not only be loved, but to belong," Pamela Powell wrote for the Daily Journal. "Rabbit Hole" (2010) earned Kidman an Academy Award nomination for her role as Becca. Rotten Tomatoes score: 86% Eight months after their son Danny's death, Howie (Aaron Eckhart) and Becca (Kidman) struggle with grief in different ways — he clings to memories, while she seeks a fresh start. High praise rolled in for the complex, character-driven drama. "The Kidman in 'Rabbit Hole' is a revelation. She has chosen, shrewdly, to underline two things: Becca's righteous anger and the awareness that her anger isn't going to take her very far," David Edelstein wrote for Vulture. She starred as Suzanne Stone in "To Die For" (1995). Rotten Tomatoes score: 88% Small-town weather reporter Suzanne Stone (Kidman) dreams of becoming a news anchor but feels like her husband (Matt Dillon) is holding her back. So, she plots to have him murdered with the help of a lovesick teen (Joaquin Phoenix). Critics called "To Die For" a poignant analysis of celebrity culture that was ahead of its time. "Nicole Kidman's work here is inspired. Her clothes, her makeup, her hair, her speech, her manner, even the way she carries herself (as if aware of the eyes of millions) are all brought to a perfect pitch," Roger Ebert wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times. In "The Northman" (2022) Kidman played the Viking Queen Gudrún. 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"Not only worthy of its fine predecessor, this tender, perceptive, and gorgeously acted memory piece may even surpass it in subtlety, feeling, and depth of characterization," Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote for the Chicago Reader. Critics loved the actor's portrayal of Millicent Clyde in "Paddington" (2014). Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% After an earthquake destroys his home, a sweet, young bear named Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) travels to England and finds refuge with the Brown family (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin). However, taxidermist Millicent Clyde (Kidman) is plotting to capture him. Critics called "Paddington" a whimsical, light-hearted treat, both for the kids who grew up with the lovable bear and the newly inducted. "Featuring really nice comedic performances from Bonneville, Hawkins, and Kidman, 'Paddington' is a pleasant surprise," Sarah Marrs wrote for Lainey Gossip.
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