Nicole kidman for parTick
Not even Ross King could get Aussie megastar to sign for Thistle.
Author Saroo Brierley with Lion stars Nicole Kidman, Priyanka Bose and Dev Patel.
TOM HANKS is an Aston Villa fan. Jay Z is an Arsenal supporter. Sylvester Stallone is a keen follower of Everton FC.
And last week I thought I had a new superfan for Europe’s mightiest side, Partick Thistle.
I was chatting to the stunning Nicole Kidman ahead of her latest movie, Lion.
It’s a real-life tale of a remarkable boy called Saroo and his search for his family.
Nicole plays Sue Brierley, Saroo’s adoptive mother. As we chatted I asked the Aussie superstar how she bonded with Sunny Pawar, who plays the boy in question.
“I played cricket, I played sports,” Nicole laughed.
“I did actually! There are different ways in which you get on with children and with Sunny he loves cricket and he loves soccer. So I said, ‘OK! Out we go!’
“I have little girls myself so that’s not my forte but I gave it a good go.”
My mind was racing – perhaps I could give big Alan Archibald a ring and get Nicole along to Firhill for a trial with the mighty Partick Thistle.
Or maybe even get her along on match day for a pie and Bovril in the Jackie Husband stand. Alas, it wasn’t to be. “No, I’m terrible at soccer,” laughed Nicole. “But at least I made Sunny laugh.”
Sorry, Jags fans! She probably saw mascot Kingsley and didn’t fancy being in a horror film.
Nicole’s new movie is a cracking drama, which also stars British actor Dev Patel as the older Saroo.
I wondered if it was difficult playing a real-life character.
“It’s different. I’m lucky I have the opportunity to play these people and to try to find their essence as a person,” said Nicole.
“Sue was such a special person that it was an honour to play her.”
Sue Brierley adopted Saroo and Nicole is an adoptive mother herself. So I asked if she drew upon her own experiences.
“For this story it’s different but I think the theme of just being a mother whether you’re related or not – I think the world needs mothers,” she told me. “We need to support mothers.
“The power of the loving, healing, beautiful mother – there’s nothing like it!” Well said Nicole, very eloquent. Next week I’ll bring you more from my old pal The Rock and his new animated film, Moana.
Rock and roll … on next week!