Nicole Kidman looked breathtaking as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday for a special celebration of Practical Magic 2, almost three decades after she first bewitched audiences as Gillian Owens.
The 59-year-old actress embraced the film’s gothic aesthetic in a daring sheer black lace dress at Directors Village on August 31, where she reunited with her onscreen sister Sandra Bullock.
Nicole’s floor-length gown featured an intricately embroidered lace bodice over a nude underlay, a plunging neckline and a dramatically sheer skirt with a thigh-high split.
She completed the romantic look with a coordinating black lace choker and pointed lace heels, while her long blonde hair was styled in voluminous, tousled waves.
The Oscar winner posed alongside Sandra, 62, who provided a striking contrast in a fitted black velvet gown featuring a crisp white high-neck collar and cuffs.
Nicole was also joined by the next generation of the Owens family, with Joey King and Maisie Williams posing alongside her ahead of the highly anticipated sequel’s release.
© Getty ImagesNicole and Sandra’s magical reunion
The appearance comes 28 years after Nicole and Sandra first played sisters Gillian and Sally Owens in 1998’s Practical Magic.
The original film wasn’t a major critical success upon its release, but gradually developed an enormous cult following, something Nicole believes is entirely responsible for the sequel finally becoming a reality.
“It was the fans,” she recently told British Vogue. “It was an actual demand from people. They were like, ‘Do we get this? Can we please?'”
© Getty ImagesSpeaking at the film’s London premiere last week, Nicole reflected on just how unlikely it would once have seemed that she and Sandra would still be leading a major studio movie together nearly three decades later.
“It’s kind of extraordinary that we get to bring it back,” she said. “If you told us 28 years ago that as women, we would still be able to star in a huge studio movie and carry it, we wouldn’t have believed it.”
“We’re hoping we pass the baton to our beautiful baby witches and at the same time, it’s so lovely still being given the spotlight.”
Nicole Kidman reveals her real-life ‘spell’
Nicole has also revealed that magic isn’t confined entirely to the screen in her family.
During a recent interview with her niece Lucia Hawley alongside Sandra, Lucia revealed: “I don’t know if you know about the Kidman women, we sway to the more magical side.”
“Some people would say witches. Grandma was born on Friday the 13th.” Nicole agreed before revealing a rather unusual family ritual passed down by her late mother, Janelle Ann Kidman.
When somebody is causing trouble, Nicole explained that she writes the person’s name on a piece of paper and puts it in the freezer, effectively “freezing them out.”
The revelation prompted Sandra to wonder jokingly whether her own name had ever ended up in Nicole’s freezer. The anecdote carries particular poignancy for Nicole following the death of her beloved mother in September 2024.
© WireImageNicole and Sandra’s friendship appears to be every bit as playful away from the cameras as the bond they share onscreen. Recalling some of the more chaotic moments filming the sequel, Nicole recently revealed that the cast found themselves “jumping off the roof together” and shooting dancing scenes at 3 a.m. despite freezing temperatures.
She also joked about discovering she was strong enough to pick Sandra up. “I can literally pick her up; I have muscles,” Nicole told People. “She always says she’s solid, but she’s not solid, she’s light as a feather.”
Sandra has been equally candid about her co-star’s mischievous side, recently joking during an appearance on The One Show that Nicole has a habit of unexpectedly pulling her pants down. “I’m prepared when I see her coming,” Sandra quipped.
For Nicole, returning to Gillian has also provided an opportunity to revisit the lighter, more uninhibited side of herself after years of tackling intense dramatic roles.
The actress recently described playing “Gilly” again as a joyful departure from some of her heavier projects, while Sandra praised her longtime friend’s free-spirited nature.
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