If the domestic abuse storyline in Big Little Lies felt like a real and traumatic portrayal, that’s because it was based on a true story. Backstage at the Emmys after the show won for Outstanding Limited Series, Liane Moriarty—who wrote the novel the show was based on—revealed that the abusive husband character (played by Alexander Skarsgård, who won an Emmy for the role) was based on an actual person.
“It came from a really horrible ex-boyfriend,” Moriarty said, “who I took great pleasure in killing off. First in the book, and then it was very nice to see it happen in the series. Then Nicole took it from there.”
For Nicole Kidman, playing the victim of that domestic abuse took a toll. “I didn’t quite realize how it was going to affect me,” she said. “It affected me more than anything I’ve ever done. Doing that for five months and then going home, I had to sort of keep it quiet, I was trying to be stoic about it, and be secret about it, but it penetrated my psyche.”
The show has a huge fan following, and the cast members are often asked if there’ll be a second season—a decision that ultimately comes down to a few people, including Moriarty, who has kept quiet on the subject until now. But there's some good news: She’s considering writing more. “I’m thinking about it,” she said. “It’s a beautiful possibility, that’s all I can say.”
For stars Reese Witherspoon and Kidman, the season two outlook also seems positive. “We’re thinking about it,” Witherspoon said. “We’re discussing it, but nothing definitive yet.”
“We love playing these roles,” Kidman said. “They’re fascinating, and it would be fantastic if we could continue them.”
Witherspoon and Kidman have a strong say in the matter, since they were executive producers of Big Little Lies. “It’s great to be the architect of your own destiny,” Witherspoon said of that behind-the-scenes position. “Creating roles for women—it’s something I’ve been very passionate about in the past five years.”
Both Witherspoon and Kidman cited their extensive experience in the industry as proof they can pull off bringing more great female-centric projects to the screen. “We’ve been in movies for so long, it turns out we know how to do it for ourselves,” Witherspoon said.
Kidman added, “I love the craft. I always have, since I was 14 years old, and I’m still here at 50. Oh my god!”
