Will Ferrell on the Moment Nicole Kidman Had Him Asking 'What the F---?' on the “Bewitched” Set

As it turns out, Nicole Kidman made some real magic on the set of 2005's Bewitched.

During a chat with Will Ferrell on The Late Show on Jan. 29, host Stephen Colbert brought up some memories of the trio's time working together on the 2005 rom-com, directed by Nora Ephron. Ferrell and Kidman starred as actors playing the 1960s' series characters Darrin and Samantha Stephens in a fictional reboot of the show. Colbert played the character of Stu Robinson and was also a writer on the film.

After making a few jokes about the movie — which has a 23% on Rotten Tomatoes though made $131 million at the box office — Colbert, 60, brought up a particular memory from the set.

"In the scene where you guys act together for the first time — this is supposed to be the moment, the meet-cute where you fall in love — Nicole Kidman is across the studio. Me and all the writers are watching the first scene," Colbert recalled. "And you, when the scene's over, do you remember what you came and said to us?"

He continued, "When the scene started and when Nora said 'Action,' we saw why Nicole Kidman is a movie star. Because the moment she called 'Action,' she flipped some switch and she became the most alluring and beautiful woman. She is a beautiful woman, and something preternatural happened. We did the scene and all of us are in a fever of desire for the character she's playing; we can barely breathe. And none of us are saying to each other because it's a weird feeling to have on set."

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But, he said, Ferrell did break the ice.

"You came over," Colbert said, "And went, 'What the f--- just happened out there? I couldn't remember any of my lines, I couldn't get out of her eyes.' "

Ferrell laughed at the recollection, adding, "It was like an alien being had come and told us everything's going to be okay."

"It was extraordinary," Colbert said. "She literally glowed from the inside. Why can't you do that?"

"I'm working on it," Ferrell joked. "I think I'm going to get there eventually."

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Colbert also noted that he wrapped a few days earlier than the rest of the cast, and that Kidman was "very gracious" the whole time they were working together. But her send-off to him also stood out in his mind.

"I said, 'Hey it was so lovely meeting you,' " Colbert remembered saying, to which Kidman replied, " 'Oh it was so wonderful.' " But instead of shaking his hand, she was rubbing his arms.

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"And she walked away, never touched my hand, and I just stood there looking at my arm," Colbert said. "And there was a grip standing there holding a light and he goes, 'Guess that's how Nicole Kidman says goodbye!' "

Ferrell noted that the actress had learned to do massage techniques, "just as an enrichment," he said. "So maybe she was just sensing the tension through there," he added with a laugh, touching Colbert's arms.

Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York starred as Darrin and Samantha Stephens in the original Bewitched. Airing for eight seasons between 1964 and 1972, the fantastical series followed the daily adventures of a powerful witch who attempts to live as a typical suburban housewife and marry a mortal man.

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