Nicole Kidman’s memorable appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015 revealed a long-forgotten encounter between the two that Kidman had always considered a date. The story, which she brought up unexpectedly, left Jimmy Fallon shocked and embarrassed, as he had no idea he had missed a romantic opportunity with the now-married actress.

The Story According to Nicole

Kidman recounted that she and Jimmy shared a mutual friend, Rick, who arranged for her to visit Jimmy’s apartment. At the time, Kidman was single and believed she was being set up on a date. She went to his apartment, only to find him wearing a baseball cap and sweats, not having prepared anything other than some old food and video games. According to Kidman, Jimmy was extremely nervous and barely spoke to her. After about an hour and a half of awkward silence and an un-engaging atmosphere, she left, concluding he wasn’t interested and even wondering if he was gay.

Jimmy’s Perspective

A visibly flustered Fallon had a different take on the story. He believed the meeting was purely professional, set up by their mutual friend Rick, to discuss a potential role for Kidman in the movie Bewitched. He was so flustered by the unexpected visit from a star like Nicole Kidman that he ran out to a deli to get some brie cheese and crackers. He claimed he was so nervous he didn’t know what to do and was under the impression it was simply a “hangout” and not a date.

The “Second Chance”

Kidman then dropped another bombshell: the two had a second chance to connect at a dinner party at director David Fincher’s house. She told a stunned Fallon that she was waiting for him to ask for her number, but he never did. The conversation took another surprising turn when Kidman revealed her husband, country singer Keith Urban, was also backstage. Urban, who came on stage and sat with the two, good-naturedly joked with Fallon about his missed opportunity.

The entire segment was a masterclass in comedic timing and celebrity banter, with the audience reacting to every twist and turn. The “date” and the “buffet” have since become running jokes between the two, making Kidman’s appearances on the show must-watch television.