Nicole Kidman insisted that the explicit scene with Efron remain in the 2012 film.

Nicole Kidman insisted that an explicit scene with Zac Efron remain in the 2012 film The Paperboy, despite director Lee Daniels considering its removal during post-production. The scene, which involves Kidman’s character urinating on Efron’s character after he is stung by a sea creature, became one of the most controversial moments in the movie. Kidman, who was 59 at the time, played Charlotte Bless, a woman obsessed with death-row inmates. She shared the screen with Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack, and David Oyelowo. The scene in question occurred when Charlotte helps Jack Jansen, portrayed by Efron, after he is stung by a jellyfish in the ocean. In front of other swimmers, she relieves his pain by urinating on him. According to those involved in the production, the scene was filmed without special effects, making it even more raw and unfiltered. Daniels later admitted that during editing, he found the scene uncomfortable and considered removing it from the version intended for the Cannes Film Festival premiere. Although he had initially wanted the scene included, he later felt it was too explicit for general audiences. Kidman did not agree with Daniels' hesitation. She reminded him that he had originally pushed for the scene to be shot and argued that once the work was completed, he should not backtrack on his decision. Her insistence proved successful, and the scene remained in the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012. Afterward, Kidman explained that the scene was part of the script and that Daniels had always wanted to film it. She praised Efron, saying she felt safe working with him on set, and acknowledged that while the scene was extreme, the speed at which the footage and discussions around it spread online surprised her. Known for demanding physical transformations, Kidman has often immersed herself fully in her roles. For her Oscar-winning performance as Virginia Woolf in The Hours (2002), she reportedly practiced writing with her right hand, despite being left-handed. She underwent another major transformation for her role as Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos (2021), for which she was again nominated for an Academy Award. In The Paperboy, she altered her appearance, speech, and mannerisms to portray Charlotte Bless, a bold, open, and sexually provocative character. Set in Florida in the late 1960s, The Paperboy follows journalist Ward Jansen, played by Matthew McConaughey, as he investigates the case of Hillary Van Wetter, a man sentenced to death and portrayed by John Cusack. His investigation into whether Van Wetter might have been wrongly convicted leads him to collaborate with colleague Yardley Acheman and his younger brother Jack. Charlotte becomes entangled in the case after forming a relationship with Van Wetter while he was in prison, hoping to prove his innocence so she can marry him. As the investigation unfolds, corruption, violence, and long-buried secrets come to light, putting everyone involved in increasing danger. Efron described another scene with Kidman as even more uncomfortable than the jellyfish incident. In a 2017 interview with Zendaya for BuzzFeed, he recalled an improvised intimate scene that was filmed continuously without interruption. He said the situation grew increasingly intense, and he wasn’t sure when the scene would end, calling the experience very unusual. Despite this, he described working with Kidman as unforgettable. Critics were divided over the film, particularly regarding its explicit content. Another notable scene featured a tense encounter between Charlotte and Van Wetter in prison, which many compared to Sharon Stone's famous interrogation scene in Basic Instinct. While the film received mixed reviews, Kidman’s performance earned widespread praise. She was nominated for both the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Charlotte Bless.