Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock on Reuniting for 'Practical Magic 2' Nearly 28 Years Later

I got home, I turned on the TV, and one of those shows had mentioned that Sandra Bullock had adopted a baby from New Orleans named Louie. She changed the course of my life. I now have a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old solely because of that moment. And I often think, if that... Don't, now I'm like... But I think that... It's not gonna happen, I'm not gonna let you do this. I'm fine. But anyway, I have such extreme gratitude because now I've got a kid going to fourth grade and a kid going to second grade. And yesterday, before I flew, I said to Haley, I showed her the picture of you guys, and I said, I said, I'm gonna go interview them. And I said, and this is Sandra. And she goes, is she the lady? And I said, she's the lady. She's the angel. And then she saw you two together, and she said, are they married? Because... Kind of. I mean, we fight like we're married. 28 years ago, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock got together and put this movie out called Practical Magic. Well, now they've got a brand new one out called Practical Magic 2. So I had the good fortune of sitting down with both Nicole and Sandra Bullock. We had an incredible conversation. We talked about what it was like reuniting after 28 years. But we talked about so much more. We talked about life and how their lives have changed and about their children and about how they've evolved and if they think love is possible again. So I wanna welcome you to Making Space. This is an extended interview of my broadcast interview with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. I hope you enjoy it. Hi. I'm so happy to be here. Good morning. I'm sitting with both of you. Okay, 28 years. You guys shot the first one. She said 28. We were like, this is gonna be good. She got it right. It's gonna be so good. Okay, so you haven't seen each other that much in between. We've been joined at the hip now, though. Well, okay, so did you think, before this joining of the hip, did you think it was gonna feel like this or did you think it was gonna be like, uh-oh, I'm not sure if this is gonna work again? I didn't think about it. Yeah. Neither did I. We were too busy with the other stuff. You know, we're just like, I hope it works. Watch it cut. Yeah, you know. But I didn't think about it at all. Yeah. I just honestly don't think we had the time to think about whether or not it was gonna work. So what happened? You see each other and you just prepped. We were talking on the phone, though, and we were sort of, there was so many other things, but then by the time we got to the set, it's like, oh, that's right, well, now we actually have to do some acting. We have to act. You guys are having so much fun together, and this kind of chemistry, I feel like it's just once, it only happens once in a blue moon. Yeah. And it's usually correlated with a romantic thing. Yeah, that's what- There's a lot of romance there. This isn't romantic. Will you let me finish? Go on. Thank you. No, I can't. Thank you, Loda, for the respect. I'm not letting go. Now you know what I had to deal with. It's right there. Wow. And it's begun. I got it. We love each other. We had a great time, and then the camera's rolling. Joke. I said joke. This is like- I don't even remember the question. What was the question? Nobody knows. It doesn't happen. I know. I'm so tired. But you said this kind of chemistry often doesn't even happen. It's correlated with romance and, you know, a love relationship that's more than just, you know, this. But I think this, what we're depicting in the movie and what happens here, it's like, it's just bigger and deeper. Yeah. And it's not a transition. I don't know. It's just, it's something that just- Happens between us. Yeah. Between us. Like, we've actually, yes, we act together, and yes, we didn't see each other for, I mean, we saw each other on red carpets, but the immediacy of suddenly sharing deeply intimate things, that all goes into performance. Well, what I love is, I watched one of your interviews with Katie Couric in 1998, and this is what you said. Quote, we have nothing in common except, quote, we both like sitting around a dinner table with a bottle of wine, period. Same, still same. But we've moved to champagne. Yeah, yeah. And dinner's a lot earlier. Yeah, we keep saying, forget midnight margarita, we're on a sunset. We've got too much to do, too much to do. We want to be in bed by midnight. Were you guys concerned? I'm like, last night. I mean, first of all, can we talk about last night for a second? What an incredible premiere. It was unbelievable. It was like the world picked up and came to LA and then continued the world into the party and just watched young, older, just in a mosh pit of joy, an old school DJ throwing down, and everyone knew the lyrics from my 13-year-old to me, and it was epic. It was just epic. It was unbelievable. And we saw a cinema full of people. That was insane to see that. Because that was old school. It was so crowded. You know what I thought about when I was watching this one, which is an incredible movie? I was thinking how much people are craving what's in the movie, which is sisterhood, connection, holding hands, laughing, dancing. Crying. I feel like crying. I feel like everyone's gotten so far apart and this movie is doing something strange, isn't it? It's sort of like bringing people together. We hope so. Yeah. It would be nice. It's coming out at the time of year when you want that. Yeah. So we're hoping, and also as women, I think we're both kind of amazed 28 years later to be able to get this film made. Really? Yeah. I mean, it's a big deal. I mean, when it first came out, we were not applauded. Yeah. And that's being kind with what was set. And we were in a place as women, you know, I had my production company. I was able, you know, like, I was excited and I thought, oh, this is forward moving. And then it just hit a wall. So the critics didn't like the first one at all? Oh, no. Too many tones. Too many women. Too many women? Yeah. Oh, jeez. Okay. Still. And then women found it. Yeah. And then we multiplied. Yeah. See what happens? No. It's like, see what happens? What is it? The little mogwais? When you feed us? Yeah. We grow? We grow. So did you think it was so spectacular then and it became such a cult classic that remaking it or doing it again was sort of like, was that taboo? Were you thinking, I'm not sure? No. It was just weird. Yeah. How it all was supposed to happen. Yeah. Like, I was not going to remake that. I remember the press junket. I was like, I am not going to do that again. Nor was anyone asking for it. No. Yeah. That's why suddenly in our lives, people were like, you want to know my favorite film of yours? Practical Magic. I was like, what? And then quoting lines and then just slowly, it was this groundswell of fans. And so was it the fans, just pressure that got the... Not pressure, desire, I suppose. Desire. Appetite. That got the studio to say, yeah? Because it wasn't a movie that was made. It was a movement and a feeling of a community. And that community couldn't have found each other had they not had... Sorry, it's last night dance floor. Had they not had social media, a way to connect and find each other going, oh, I like this too. I dress up. This is what I do on this date. And I've never... Unless it's like Rocky Horror Picture Show. I don't know anything that has had that kind of visceral reaction with a large swath of people. Not just women. Yeah. Men too. It's fabulous. So your kids were on the set, which I love so much. Yeah. What was that like for your kids to see you in action? Like now they're saying, this is what mom does. This is what the set is. This is what it's about. They didn't remember any other set. This was the first set that they remembered. Yeah, they didn't. They were like, oh, where are you going? I said, well, I have to go get in front of a camera. So can we watch? Yeah, go sit over there. And then they were like, can we be in it? So I said, every time I put them in the background before it's gotten cut. Oh, right. I'm sorry, show business. But I put them in the film and they didn't know until last night that I put their voices, their essences in the film. There's a certain scene when he pulls his hand off and I was like... Wait, their voices are in the movie? I have little recordings from when they were babies and like all the way up. And I was like, I know exactly what needs to go here and here. And last night when it came up, I was like, and they're like, that's me. And they got to hear themselves as like babies and little toddlers. And yeah, it was very sweet. So they didn't get cut out. They're kind of in it. Yeah, yeah. So what was it like having your kids there? Well, they've been on set pretty much their whole lives. So it was more like they were in London in the summer and it was just beautiful for them. And my niece was there. And so for us, it was just a family kind of affair. And they would come and go and watch things. And both of them have seen this movie now. They hadn't seen the original. Oh, yeah. So they went and saw the original. There was a screening of it at the LA Cemetery, which I know sounds very strange, but it's incredible. It's a Hollywood thing. We like to watch dead people. And like ate it up and then saw the second one. And now my 15-year-old has seen it three times and is gonna be seeing it a fourth. Wow. And a fifth. So, and my 18-year-old's seen it twice and both gave the thumbs up. That's very rare. That is very rare. Especially for girls. I know. And I'm raising teenagers. But they're so supportive. I mean, you just get ready, girl. It's coming. Raising teenagers is hard? No, I don't think it's hard. Is it hard? Can be. You say it's not? Tell me. I think it's a joy. I mean, is it hard? I love where she's like, where she, I'm like, this is the hardest thing ever. And she's like, huh? It was so lovely. I'm like, I want on her planet, I want where she, she wakes up that way. You know, it's like, I want more of that. What she's got. Yeah. But I don't know. Is it hard? Aspects of it can be challenging, but at the same time, is it extraordinary to accompany these people on their journey? Yeah. And the beginning of their journey? Yeah. And just say, I'm here. I'm your guide. I'm your, I'm hopefully your home, your safe, safe place. And the world is your oyster. Yeah. Why is it hard, Sandy? I mean, every situation's different. You know, Lai came into my life when she was two and a half. So there were some things that had already happened and set. And I didn't have the benefit that I had with Lou, you know, day one. And that is her journey. It's also my journey to figure out and to navigate and to, I mean, you know, we're different. This, you know, and I have to see everything through her eyes and I'm uber paranoid. And they will tell you. I'm like, they're like, mom, it's going to be fine. I'm like, it's not fine. It's not fine outside. But, you know, I'm, I'm now learning to trust them because if I've done an okay job, even if I've just done an okay job, where they are now is extraordinary. I still need bumpers for one of them, Laila. But she's fire. She's fire? She's fire. What does that mean? Unafraid. Knows exactly who she is. Fearless. Will go in there, will critique, will say, well, that's not right. They should, I'm like, but don't say that to their face. And then she'll go and say it to your face. Unafraid. And I go, that's the safety I gave her. Then. That's awesome. Thank God. What are your fears for them? What do you worry about? Well, end of the world. That. The big one, you know, did I, why did I build a bunker? You know, if I'm going to be a prepper, should I start now? Do I still have time? And the energy that is floating around our country and our world again, the color of their skin, they're my babies, they're my life, but no one knows that when they leave my house. So that is always in the forefront of my mind. I can't, I've got to stop thinking about it so much because I think we've had all the conversations. They know. Yeah. I think they're going to, they know. They know. Every time I see Sandy, I get emotional. It's serious. Don't look at Koda right now. Because I'll tell you why. Yeah. 10 years ago. Yeah. Now I'm getting emotional. I know. I'm so connected. 10 years ago, right now, I was upset because I realized I was 50, I was 51 or 50. And I realized that I was, I had missed the window to have children and I felt terrible about it. I was so upset, but I knew it was like my cross to bear. I kept saying, you know, don't worry about it. You don't get everything in life. Stop asking for everything. And then I got home, I turned on the TV and one of those shows had mentioned that Sandra Bullock had adopted a baby from New Orleans named Louie. And I literally Googled, how old is Sandra Bullock? Did you? And I was like, she's my exact age. Wow. I burst out into tears. So you were 44? I was, I had, I'm 62 now. So she, my daughter's nine. So I was 51 when I saw that. And so I reached out and I called you and I said, I have to ask you a question. I said, tell me what it's like. And you said. I said, I got a guy. I was about to say. She's got a guy. I got a guy. But let me tell you what else you said. You said Louie's in the backyard singing happy birthday because he thinks he's getting cake when he sings happy birthday and he's peeing. Yes. And it's the best thing I've ever done in my life. And you were how old? I was 51. I filled out the paperwork. Incredible. I got the call. I remember when you sent the text from the plane. And I said, I sent Sandy a text from the plane that said, I'm on the way. And you had to share a playlist. I had a playlist. You had a playlist. And she changed the course of my life. I now have a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old solely because of that moment. And I often think, if that. Don't, now I'm like. But I think that. It's not gonna happen. I'm not gonna let you do this. I'm fine. Fine, okay. But anyway, I have such extreme gratitude because now I've got a kid going to fourth grade and a kid going to second grade. And yesterday before I flew, I said to Haley, I showed her the picture of you guys. And I said, I said, I'm gonna go interview them. And I said, and this is Sandra. And she goes, is she the lady? And I said, she's the lady. She's the angel. And then she saw you two together and she said, are they married? Kind of. I mean, we fight like we're married. Anyway. And protect each other when we're married. Well, not all married couples protect each other. So I wouldn't put it in that category. We're better than married couples. We are in a solid relationship of our own. Yes, you are. Our own maybe. Yeah, but the exact thing that you just said, that is Sandy. You call up and you go, is there something? Tell me this and she'll tell you. In a minute. Yeah. And that's deeply personal. I mean, the fact that we had a conversation. That's sisterhood too. That's sisterhood. I think when you're fulfilled by your choices, you don't want to hide them. You don't want to gatekeep. You want to share them. It's like when someone's happy in their life, they don't mock or judge others for their, it's like, I'm so happy with what I have. And you described a family to me and you said, and this has stuck with me because other women have come up to me since and said, you know, you don't have to live, I think you said you don't have to live in the box. Families come in a million different ways. You know, you know, I know. We all have these kind of very interesting families that come in different ways and they're all beautiful that way. I mean, this is a wow to me. This is a wow to me. We have to like remind each other not to limit. It's easy to limit ourselves in our perspective and our wants and our, you know, desires. Like it's so easy with how loud it is out there. I do it daily and I have to remind myself, stop it. Just, it's going to be amazing. So that's sort of the new thing that goes through my head. Stop it, it's going to be amazing. It's going to be amazing. Yeah, it's going to be amazing. That's what you say. That's what you say all the time. It's going to be amazing. I go, I don't know if I say it because it's going to be amazing. I'm just like, I choose to see what's good. I choose to see what's good. I really, that's where I'm headed. And that's just how you live your life, right? I haven't always lived like that. I work to live like that. I try to always slant that way. But I'm also, I possibly just, yeah, I wake up in a good mood. I'm just one of those people. I think that's beautiful. And I remember- I'm grateful because yeah, doesn't mean I don't get in a bad mood, but I always wake up in a good mood. But I think one thing I remember, she's so bad. She's so bad. Luckily, I'm so loving. She's so loving all the time. I am. And I can pick her up. You can? And do you want to see? No. Yes. Yes, I do. Heather, the entertainer. Hey, do you like the WWE? That's the third installment. We're liking these. Not Louis Lucho Levi's outfits. Very proud of it. It's just, I mean, can we really pick her up? I mean, look at, look at- Let me see the gun. Hold on, let me pick you up. No, girl, no. I mean, if you saw the film, you saw the gun. Unless you can bench press 155, you can't. Let's not do it. This is running in the morning. We need to get a seat out in the morning. By the way, one of the most beautiful things about you, Nicole, and I got a chance to interview you, was you spoke to me about a beautiful journey of your mom, who it touched me so deeply. And it was not only what it was like at the end, but also the caregiving in between. And I just wondered what your mom taught you about, what that process taught you about being a caregiver and love at the end. Patience. Show up. All the things that are circling around somebody at that stage of life. Listen, be present, be available, and don't be judgmental. Wow, those are all good life lessons. And that's probably what I'm really interested in now, also as a person. And I've talked about it where we have the people at the beginning of life, the doulas, the birth doulas, where it's so important now to focus on what we provide, the care we provide for end of life. You know, and there's people called death doulas. There's people that provide service in regards to that, but I feel that it's underfunded. And the more we talk about it and the more we focus on it, and the more that's, I think we're in a place of society where people are living longer and there's an enormous amount of, you don't want people cast aside. I thought that was so interesting when you said you were interested in possibly even being a death doula. Yeah, I'm studying and I'm really something, I'm absolutely. And it's funny, because people are taboo at the end. Some people want to stiff arm and run away and say, I can't, I can't walk in the hospital room, I can't do it, I have to shut the door. Which is also okay. Okay. Then that's why you have people that you go, well, there's someone here who can be a bridge or be impartial or just provide care and a place to, who will listen. Yeah. And also navigate the families. Part of a death doula is you're navigating not just the person, but you're navigating the families as well. It's complicated. Sandra, how did caregiving change you? Yeah, like really? Yeah. But like, I've had the honor of being with someone transitioning like three times and then almost four. And it is oddly comfortable for me. I'm not afraid of it because I do feel that there's other things at play and meeting and waiting. And everything that Nick said, it pushes every boundary that you have and it's hard. But if you can remind yourself to meet them where they are rather than where you wanted them to be or where you remember them being, they're not there anymore. And I think, and I don't know if they talk about this in your studies, is that no one talks about the caregivers. You know, the rate of death or severe illness for a caregiver goes up dramatically. I don't know, it's like 30, 40%. You can do the research, but you do the research, but it's high. And the illness, stroke, cancer, it shoots up. And yeah. It's hard because there isn't a guidebook. I had no guidebook and I didn't know who to ask for help. And you feel like you're the only person navigating that. And you are, but nothing has served me in a more fulfilling and enlightening way than being with someone in the room when it happens. And I've been there and I've seen it and it's been different every time, but there's a similarity in that at the very end, there are things beyond us waiting. I've seen it on the eyes. I've seen, and I'm like, there's something there. So if we can get a little glimpse of that, I think for those of us left behind, you go, wow, we're not by ourselves, you know? And it's not a journey I wish on anyone, but if we live and love long enough, it's gonna happen. I'm very lucky that I got to see what I got to see. And would I wanna do that over again? If I'm here this way, yes, but it was not easy. But I love how I am in that moment. That's something about myself that I don't know where it came from, but I love who I am to the person in that moment. And I'm glad I was in the room when it happened. Which actually is dealt with in the film in the sense of the generations and the passing of, and we have a line in the film where we are the aunts now, which is a metaphor for there's a stage in life where you become the next, you're the ones who are the protectors of the next generation. And you're here providing the stability and the warmth and the comfort and the home. And that's very much a part of this film. And people say they cry in this film. Hopefully they laugh too, but they cry because I think there is that sense of the cycle of life goes on. And that must've played in the filming because when I'm watching The Connection and now I'm getting more of why you guys are like this. I mean, you guys are both- What, nuts? No, I know why you guys are nuts. We're on the journey of life together. But you can tell. Like, do you guys still believe in love? God, yes. It's like, I mean, to me, I don't, when you say love to me, I don't immediately go to, oh, that hottie in that corner is gonna be mine by eight. I mean, in a loving way. You know, I said it in a very- Well, you kinda did just then. That's not where my mind goes when I hear love. Where does it go? You know that about me. I'm chasing her. It's not where I go. And we're gonna get her there. Yes. Oh, God. Wild horses. Anyway. Oh my gosh, cut this out. Okay, cut this out. Don't cut it out. No, but I don't, when I hear love, I just, my mind does not go to an intimate relationship with someone of the opposite sex. In my case, the opposite sex. I immediately go to, what am I feeling right now? Like, what's sitting in my chest? What makes me feel loving? You know, like this morning, could not love my kids any more than I did this morning. You know, I didn't wanna kill them this morning. I love them so much. And I got to see a different side. So I don't, it doesn't go away. Like, I don't shut down when things leave or get taken or, you know, explode. I don't, I rest, I give time, but it's just, it's always there, just in a different form. Yeah. Exactly. If you can move towards, okay, it's not this type of love now, it's this love. I just think it's a much easier place to operate from. Yeah. It can be very hard. Yes. But it's so, it's like a soothing balm if you can get there. And why not? Why not? Yeah, why not? So let me ask you something, Hoda. Oh, no. I'm watching a morning program, oddly, the one that you're on, and a question was posed to you about a flight that you took. So were you in 3C and there was a 3D, and then there was a little conversation and a little sparklet? Like, what happened? It was, okay. So I was on a plane and I sat next to some guy and he just said to me- On TV? All the- Yeah, yeah. He was on Deep Star. He just said, oh God, I'm just having a hard time. And I was thinking, who is this guy? I don't know. And he's some AI guy who's super whatever. And he said- Handsome, super handsome. How did he know that? I was watching the segment. And he literally said, I can't sleep. I saw this image and it really stuck with me. And he showed me a little boy who was overseas in Africa who was poor. And he said, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sleep. So I started sending money and things there. And he said, and I realized, what the hell am I doing? We have like one ride around the sun. What am I doing with my life? And he decided that he was going to switch gears and work in this charity part of life. So while we were- I like him so far. I was crying because he had this revelation and he kept going, is this a dream? Yeah. When we were talking. And then he got off the plane and we did exchange numbers and bye. And then we each went. So I didn't know if it was like a connection, like a just a bond for a second, or was it something? I don't know. I still don't know. And then I had to give a speech somewhere and weirdly the guy was there and he walked up to me. Especially with the speeches that you're giving now, he is on that journey. Yes. So he, I was, I saw him and he saw me and we were both. Oh my gosh. And somebody walked up and goes, what is going on? What is this? And I go, I don't, it's nothing. Like, I don't know what it is. And so I don't know what it is. Where is he now? He's in New York part of the time and in Miami part of the time. Oh my gosh. Which one's my camera? Does it matter? Okay, we're putting a little of our witchy magic for you. This is great. But I, but by the way, I do. Come on, come on. I do believe in love. I mean. Well, you're, you're, you're the, you're walking. You are it. It's like you, whether you believe it or not, you are it. You know? And it's, it's, it's in you whether you want to believe it or not. Geez, there. You know? This is my favorite interview ever. Intense. You're so soft-skinned. Baby. You are so weird. Well, that's important. If you look at someone and you go, am I going to enjoy touching their very soft skin? You will enjoy it. Okay. Something's happened. She went to the party last night. Come out. Go sleep. I was throwing down the big pun with my daughter. To what, to what? Big pun, where she was like, she knew the lyrics. I was like, you know, it's fine, Jeff. She was like, I gotcha. All right. So, back, back. All right, back. Okay. All right. They'll cut this. Cut it. Oh my God. See, you know, we're cool. Okay. So, how are we going to wrap this up? I don't know if it's your turn. I'm interested. Well, let me help you out. On the back, it says, grocery list. The film is called Practical Magic. It comes out September 10. These, these people, then there's Joey King and Maisie Williams, Diane, we have Stalker Channing. Oh my God, Stalker Channing. Yeah, and then Sully McLeod. Like, just the most delicious group of human beings who came to execute the story. Why are you laughing? Because I'm being really sincere right now. Yeah, you are. And I was like, buy a ticket and go to the cinema and experience this together. We rarely do things together as a community for the same reason. You go to weddings for the same reason. You go to funerals. Like, what other events other than maybe a protest? But what things do you do as a community to have the same experience? And since the pandemic, I think we realized that we've lost the ability to connect in the same room. And when we made this film, we wanted to tick a lot of the boxes for those who want to feel something. And I think just go with people, sit next to someone, cry at the same time, cry at different times, laugh at the same time. Like, just sit next to someone. You don't have to make eye contact. You don't have to make eye contact on a plane either. But you did. But go feel something with someone you don't know, like you did, and have a connection. And have some fun. And we're going into the fall, and this is a great way to start it. I love you guys so much. Thank you. Oh, I love you guys so much. I love you.