It was reported last night that talented director, writer, producer and humourist Nora Ephron passed away from pneumonia. Nora of course directed Nicole in Bewitched (2005), and Nicole considered her a friend since then. Ephron also wrote, directed and/or produced the romantic comedy classics Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, and more recently worked with Meryl Streep on Julie & Julia. Nicole shared her condolences in a press release:

“Nora was a joy to be around; she was so smart, warm, and funny. I am so grateful that she was my friend and we had the opportunity to work together. My thoughts and love are with her family at this time. I will never forget the dinners, games, and laughter we all shared.”
- Nicole Kidman

While Bewitched received rather unfavourable reviews from critics and many movie-goers, it is still a fan favourite in the Nicole fan community, and is definitely one of my favourite Nicole films. It is so charmingly sweet, romantic and funny, and it’s the movie I put on when in need of some light hearted relief. Those who enjoy the film, really love it, and Nicole is aware of the fan love for it, saying in 2005: “Everybody is obsessed with Bewitched. I get asked so many questions about it. I’m glad. It’s fun. It’s a lot of fun. Will Ferrell is just a sweetheart.”

One of the reasons Nicole took the part was because she wanted to work with Nora Ephron, and Nora showed us a side of Nicole we hadn’t seen before. “She’s really fun, she’s really warm, she’s really charming, and we haven’t seen her be this Nicole Kidman,” Ephron said. Nicole herself enjoyed working with Ephron, noting that she has the best catering in the world! “Nora is incredibly witty and powerful as a woman, yet she is also extremely nurturing. She invites you over on a Saturday night and she does all the cooking and she kind of has 30 people over. She loves to direct the film during the week and then entertain on the weekends. And I think that that’s something that people don’t realize about her, that there’s such a selfness to her and at the same time she is one of the smartest writers and smartest women working today,” Nicole told an interviewer in 2005. Both Nicole and Will Ferrell liked the original concept for the film that the Ephron sisters came up with when writing the script, with Nicole describing it as “clever and “cute”. “One of the points of Bewitched,” Ephron said, “is that all the magic in the world is no match for love.”

Scroll on down this post for the trailer and a few clips from Bewitched in memory of this woman who will certainly be missed in the film industry.