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"Paperboy" director Lee Daniels and Nicole Kidman on the red carpet.

By Us Weekly

Nicole Kidman went outside of her comfort zone to play a sexy role in "The Paperboy," but there was one thing she wasn't willing to do.

"I asked her to use the 'n' word," director Lee Daniels revealed Wednesday during a press conference for the film. "I could feel the racial tension there in the town. She said, 'I won't do it.' I told my producer, 'She won't do it!' Then he mapped it out -- 'Lee, day one she is on a washing machine, day two she is urinating on Zac Efron, day three she's having telepathic sex ... I think you can forgive her."

PHOTOS: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's sweetest moments

Kidman, 45, plays a trashy, bleach-blonde woman in the dark, twisted film set in the 1960s. "The Paperboy" stars Efron and Matthew McConaughey as two brothers investigating the case of a death row inmate played by John Cusack, who Kidman's character is obsessed with marrying.

"I just didn't feel it was right for the character," the actress explained of why she wouldn't say the word. "I have a son (Connor Cruise) who is African-American. I just didn't feel like it was right. What I try to do as an actor is fulfill a director's vision. I have opinions, but at the same time I'm not there to stop him from anything. I've really tried to do that in every film. I never want to pull them off their vision."

PHOTOS: Nicole marriage to Tom Cruise

Kidman is mother to adopted children Isabella, 19, and Connor, 17, with ex-husband Tom Cruise, and daughters Sunday Rose, 4, and Faith Margaret, 21 months, with husband Keith Urban.

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Kidman refused to say n-word in 'Paperboy'

Nicole Kidman refused to use the N word in her controversial movie The Paperboy.

The Oscar-winner stars alongside Zac Efron in the dark thriller, which involves various explicit sex scenes.

Despite pushing the boundaries for her role, Nicole knew where she had to draw the line.

"I asked her to use the 'N' word," directorLee Danielsrevealed during a press conference.

"I could feel the racial tension there in the town. She said, 'I won't do it.' I told my producer, 'She won't do it!' Then he mapped it out 'Lee, day one she is on a washing machine, day two she is urinating onZac Efron, day three she's having telepathic sex I think you can forgive her."

Nicole has two adopted children, Isabella and Connor, with her ex-husband Tom Cruise, and also raises daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret with current spouse Keith Urban.

Personal reasons helped her decide not to use the term.

"I just didn't feel it was right for the character," Nicole explained.

"I have a son [Connor] who is African American. I just didn't feel like it was right. What I try to do as an actor is fulfil a directors vision. I have opinions, but at the same time I'm not there to stop him from anything. I've really tried to do that in every film. I never want to pull them off their vision."

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Nicole Kidman refused to use 'N word'

Nicole Kidman went outside of her comfort zone to play a sexy role in The Paperboy, but there was one thing she wasn't willing to do.

"I asked her to use the 'N' word," director Lee Daniels revealed Wednesday during the New York Film Festival press conference for the film. "I could feel the racial tension there in the town. She said, 'I won't do it.' I told my producer, 'She won't do it!' Then he mapped it out -- 'Lee, day one she is on a washing machine, day two she is urinating on Zac Efron, day three she's having telepathic sex . . . I think you can forgive her."

PHOTOS: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's sweetest moments

Kidman, 45, plays a trashy, bleach-blonde woman in the dark, twisted film set in the 1960s. The Paperboy stars Efron and Matthew McConaughey as two brothers investigating the case of a death row inmate played by John Cusack, who Kidman's character is obsessed with marrying.

"I just didn't feel it was right for the character," the actress explained of why she wouldn't say the word. "I have a son [Connor Cruise] who is African American. I just didn't feel like it was right. What I try to do as an actor is fulfill a directors vision. I have opinions, but at the same time I'm not there to stop him from anything. I've really tried to do that in every film. I never want to pull them off their vision."

PHOTOS: Nicole marriage to Tom Cruise

Kidman is mother to adopted children Isabella, 19, and Connor, 17, with ex-husband Tom Cruise, and daughters Sunday Rose, 4, and Faith Margaret, 21 months, with husband Keith Urban.

But the mother of four does want to take on more challenging roles in the future.

PHOTOS: How Nicole's face has changed

"I just wanted to push myself to do something I haven't done before. I want to feel challenged, ripped open, to bring discomfort to myself and it's really hard to find those roles and people who will do it with you," she said. "But at this point in my life I don't want to be scared. I'm going to push through."

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Nicole Kidman Refused to Say "N" Word for Controversial Paperboy Role

How to describe President Barack Obamas performance at Wednesdays debate? Journalists seem to have found the word: Professorial. (italics added)

(PHOTOS: Obama not having fun)

Huffington Post: But the president failed to respond effectively, drifting into his professorial demeanor and barely attempting to veil his annoyance with Romney.

Los Angeles Times: For his part, Obama was pleasant and professorial, as if he were merely engaged in a ponderous academic discussion, rather than a political grudge match with enormous consequences.

New York Times: The pundits and prognosticators have spoken. The spinners and spinnees have gone home. President Obama may have sounded a bit too professorial, and Mitt Romney may have come energetic and ready to spar.

(Also on POLITICO: Obama hit with left hook on TV, online)

Andrew Sullivan: Look: you know how much I love the guy, and you know how much of a high information viewer I am, and I can see the logic of some of Obamas meandering, weak, professorial arguments.

Salt Lake Tribune: Mitt Romney tried to shake off the stiffness and President Barack Obama attempted to drop the professorial tone as the two met Wednesday for the first of three presidential debates.

Chicago Tribune: Romney, a former private equity executive, spoke in lists and was more concise than Obama, who has practiced unsuccessfully at tamping down his professorial style.

Reuters: Romney, however, did himself some favors with crisper answers than Obama, who sounded professorial and a bit long-winded despite his staffs best efforts to get him to give snappier comments.

Originally posted here:
Press: One word describes Obama

NEW YORK -- By his own admission, Lee Daniels sets out to "discombobulate" actors on set.

But he made his star Nicole Kidman actively uncomfortable when he asked her to say the N-word during a scene in their new movie, the period melodrama "The Paperboy."

The polarizing film, about a journalist and a murder in 1970s Florida, is a simmering pot of race and class, with Kidmans Charlotte Bless a vixen who speaks her mind. In one scene, Daniels wanted her to aim an N-word at a black costar. But the actress bristled at the idea.

PHOTOS: Hollywood backlot moments

On Wednesday at a press conference at the New York Film Festival, the disagreement again reared its head.

As Daniels recounted his puzzlement that Kidman wouldnt say it, Kidman replied, looking slightly annoyed, "I didn't feel like it was right for the character," then after a second, "I have a son who's African American and I just didn't feel it was right. It wasn't right."

Daniels said that he was initially frustrated by Kidmans stance and expressed that feeling to his producer. The producer replied that so far during the shoot Daniels had put Kidmans character in a compromising sexual position, as well as had her pee on Zac Efron, so maybe best to cut her a break. Daniels relented.

Still, the director took a generally direct line with his actors. As Kidmans costar David Oyelowo put it, Daniels feels it is his job to push you out of your comfort zone; he feels the truth will be accessed that way.

PHOTOS: Celebrities by the Times

He asked Kidman to do her own makeup, which he thought freaked her out at the beginning (Kidman: I thought when am I going to shoot the film if we're all doing our own hair and makeup?) and said he expected Zac Efron at catering.

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Nicole Kidman refused to say N-word for Lee Daniels in 'Paperboy'