Nicole Kidman turned an awkward cinema interruption into a moment of comedy when a mobile phone began ringing during a Sydney screening of Practical Magic 2.
The actress had made a surprise appearance at the advance showing, prompting loud applause from fans as she arrived in a white gown with floral detailing and her hair worn loose in waves.
“How are you all? You’re all pretty quiet. We need more noise,” Kidman told the audience.
Moments later, a phone rang in the theatre. Rather than allowing the breach of cinema etiquette to derail the event, Kidman held her hand to her ear as if answering a call and joked: “Someone’s got their phone ringing. Should I answer it?”
The screening host added to the joke by asking: “Is that Sandy?” — a reference to Kidman’s co-star Sandra Bullock, who reprises her role in the sequel.
Kidman said members of her family, including her daughter, were also attending the screening. Asked why she and Bullock had decided to return to the world of the 1998 fantasy romance, she replied: “I think it was more the fans demanded it.”
“Hopefully you love it. I love you,” she told the crowd.
Practical Magic 2 reunites Kidman and Bullock as sisters Gillian and Sally Owens, almost three decades after the original film. The new story follows the Owens family as the next generation becomes entangled in the supernatural curse that has haunted them.
The sequel is directed by Susanne Bier and also stars Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing.
Practical Magic 2 is due to open in Australian cinemas on September 10.
