How Old Were Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill in Dead Calm?

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

We were on the fence about Dead Calm actress Nicole Kidman’s look at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

While Julianne Moore and Sofia Vergara were chosen as worst and best dressed respectively, Nicole Kidman came in the dead center.

Nicole Kidman wears her hair down at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild AwardsNicole Kidman wears her hair down at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards held on January 30, 2016, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles

27 years earlier, she portrayed Rae Ingram in the 1989 Australian psychological thriller-horror film Dead Calm. She co-starred with Sam Neill and Billy Zane.

Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her older husband, Royal Australian Navy officer John Ingram (Sam Neill) in Dead CalmRae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her older husband, Royal Australian Navy officer John Ingram (Sam Neill) in Dead Calm

New Zealand actor Nigel John Dermot “Sam” Neill was born on September 14, 1947, and was 39 years old when the movie was filmed in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands in the winter of 1987. Winter in Australia starts on June 1 and ends on August 31.

Nicole Kidman turned 20 while filming Dead Calm as Rae IngramNicole Kidman turned 20 while filming Dead Calm as Rae Ingram

Born on June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicole Kidman turned 20 while filming Dead Calm. She discussed gender imbalance and her Dead Calm role in an interview with The Talks.

Because I came from Australia, I came from a slightly different background in terms of filmmaking. I was in a little drama school and a lot of directors were writing for me. I had Dead Calm written for me, I had Vietnam written for me… But there certainly wasn’t a huge number of women directing at the time.

Jane Campion was the first person to sort of take me under her shoulder; she was a huge part of shaping me and is still one of my very, very close friends. She is still shaping me! But I am raising daughters right now and one of them has an interest in filmmaking — and that certainly opened my eyes even more.

Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane fighting in Dead CalmNicole Kidman and Billy Zane fighting in Dead Calm

Billy Zane also gained international recognition for his performance as villain Hughie Warriner in Dead Calm. Born on February 24, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, he turned 21 on February 24, 1987.

The Saracen boat used in the movie is Stormvogel, a former racing yacht that was converted to a charter vessel. It was built by designer Van de Stadt in 1961.

Dead Calm was filmed over a 14-week span in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands in the winter of 1987Dead Calm was filmed over a 14-week span in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands in the winter of 1987

Not based on a true story, the movie screenplay by Terry Hayes was based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Williams that you can buy on Amazon. The film was released in the United States on April 7, 1989.

Nicole Kidman's breakthrough came in 1989 with the thriller film Dead CalmNicole Kidman’s breakthrough came in 1989 with the thriller film Dead Calm

Let’s start off with the positives: Nicole’s sparkly Gucci gown at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards looked totally fun to wear, and its trompe l’oeil ruffle effect literally made it stand out on the red carpet.

Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban pose for photos on the red carpet at the 2016 SAG AwardsNicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban pose for photos on the red carpet at the 2016 SAG Awards

A combination of her loose hairstyle and the layered long necklaces add just the right touch to Nicole’s personal boho-inspired style. And as for her face and makeup? Just beautiful.

Nicole Kidman wears a Gucci trompe l’oeil gown on the red carpet of the SAG AwardsNicole Kidman wears a Gucci trompe l’oeil gown on the red carpet of the SAG Awards

However, we can’t help but feel that the fun gown is a little too childish and cartoony for usually elegant Nicole. And is it just us or does the color also remind you of a circus tent?

Nicole Kidman wears a sparkling multi-colored Gucci dress on the red carpetNicole Kidman wears a sparkling multi-colored Gucci dress on the red carpet

We did manage to get a peek at Nicole’s sandals as she strutted her stuff on the red carpet.

Nicole Kidman's feet in black patent Gucci sandalsNicole Kidman’s feet in black patent Gucci sandals

Nicole Kidman displayed her toes in Gucci buttoned ankle-strap sandalsNicole Kidman displayed her toes in Gucci buttoned ankle-strap sandals

The details on the toes helped us identify them as the Gucci buttoned ankle-strap sandals from Farfetch and Nordstrom.

Gucci Button-Strap Leather Sandals, $995

Black Gucci Button-Strap Leather Sandals

Gucci Button-Strap Leather Sandals

Credit: Brian To / FayesVision / WENN