Truth about Nicole Kidman and 'infatuated' co-star Simon Baker's relationship: 'Outrageous flirting' in front of his wife and dominatrix party incident that left lingering question

Dressed head to toe in Chanel couture and beaming in the middle of a group photo, there was no missing Nicole Kidman at the premiere of her latest TV project.

But even more obvious was how the 58-year-old actress was posing – namely with her co-star Simon Baker, 56, whose hand she was affectionately holding. 

Predictably, coming fresh off the back of her split from Keith Urban, rumors of a romance started brewing, becoming ever more fevered when the pair talked openly about their chemistry.

But for one insider, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

For Kidman and Baker's flirty relationship has reportedly long been a 'standing joke' among friends – including his ex-wife, Rebecca Rigg.

'Simon, Rebecca and Nicole were great friends for decades,' the insider told the Daily Mail. 'Rebecca would always tease him that he liked Nicole better than he liked her. Simon used to flirt outrageously with Nicole. It didn't seem to bother Rebecca. It became a standing joke.'

The insider recalled a Halloween party they all attended, where a scantily clad Rigg, now 58, joked that her husband would no doubt be more turned on by Kidman despite the fact she had swerved costumes altogether.

'Simon and Rebecca turned up at a Halloween party in the Hollywood Hills over 20 years ago with Nicole in tow. Rebecca was dressed as a dominatrix and Simon was holding a pair of handcuffs.

'Nicole didn't bother to dress up. But Rebecca said she had no doubt Simon was turned on by Nicole. Even though she was wearing an outrageously sexy get-up.'

The insider claimed that they 'all laughed about it because they were such good friends' but that at times they did wonder if 'Simon was infatuated with Nicole'.

Kidman and Baker became friends via his ex-wife Rigg, who 'hit it off immediately' with Kidman when they first met while auditioning for roles in Australia in their late teens. They both starred in separate episodes of Australian children's series Winners in 1985 before moving to the US in the 1990s to find fame.

So close remained the two women that Kidman was made godmother to Rigg and Baker's son, Harry, now 24. The couple also have son Claude, 27, and daughter Stella, 32, an actress who starred alongside her father in The Mentalist.

Rigg was there as Kidman weathered her acrimonious split from Tom Cruise in 2001, and later welcomed Urban into their fold, with the two couples hanging out whenever their work schedules allowed.

When Baker and Rigg split in 2020, Kidman remained friends with both.

'Nicole wasn't torn when Rebecca and Simon split,' our insider said. 'She stayed friends with both, but was closer to Rebecca. It was a girl thing.'

But eyebrows were raised after the pictures of Kidman and Baker emerged earlier this month, with some convinced that their friendship had transitioned into a romance as they talked affectionately of one another in an interview to promote Scarpetta, in which they play husband and wife.

It marks the second time they have portrayed a couple, their first being in an episode of black comedy drama Roar in 2022.

Talking about kissing in Scarpetta, Kidman told Australia's The Daily Telegraph: 'I didn't find it weird. But we've kissed on the cheek before. We've hugged a lot. We've lived in the same house.'

Giving a nod to her friendship with Rigg, she added: 'And you know, the woman I grew up with, he was married to for a substantial part of his life… 29 years, so we are just the same person… I think because of our history together, that's in-built, so we didn't have to work for that, that just vibrates.'

So, what of Kidman's seemingly intimate moment with Baker?

'Nicole loves that there is talk of a relationship brewing with Simon, because it gets eyes and ears on their show,' a second insider told us. 'And for now it's innocent enough to let it be.

'They are great friends who love each other, but they aren't in love. Their relationship is strictly platonic. It is all a good result for the promotion of Scarpetta.'

The speculation comes months after Urban's apparent closeness to fellow country singer Karley Scott Collins, 25, raised eyebrows. For her part, Collins shut down the 'absolutely RIDICULOUS and untrue' rumors on social media .

Chanel ambassador Kidman was married to the country musician for 19 years before their split in 2025. They are parents to daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 15.

Neither Urban or Kidman have commented specifically on the break-up, or if other parties were involved in their split, but Kidman recently told Variety she is simply focusing on 'moving toward what's good'. 

'What I'm grateful for is my family and keeping them as is and moving forward,' she said. 'That's that. Everything else I don't discuss out of respect. I'm staying in a place of, "We are a family," and that's what we'll continue to be. My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.'

For his part, Urban has been blasé about the noise surrounding his ex.

'Keith isn't paying much attention to the Simon rumors,' the second insider said. 'He has more occupying his mind than to stress over Nicole's friendships or romances. If it can be avoided, it will be.'