NEW YORK – Harris Dickinson was not particularly keen on sharing “Babygirl” with his parents.

The film is an R-rated psychosexual thriller featuring a powerful CEO, Romy (Nicole Kidman), who engages in a passionate relationship with her much younger intern, Samuel (Harris Dickinson). The movie includes a variety of bold and daring scenes, notably one where Romy eats candy from Samuel’s hand while on all fours, and another where she drinks milk from a dish as he watches. Fortunately for Dickinson’s mother, there isn’t much actual nudity involved.

“When my mum saw it, she mentioned, ‘I wore a turtleneck because I thought I would have to cover my eyes,’ ” the British actor shares, enjoying a light meal on a recent afternoon. “But she really didn’t have to!”

Nicole Kidman Created a ‘Safe Space’ for Harris Dickinson While Filming ‘Babygirl’

Launching in theaters on Christmas Day, “Babygirl” is set to be a significant turning point for Dickinson, 28, who is known for his roles in indie films like “The Iron Claw,” “Scrapper,” and “Triangle of Sadness.” Halina Reijn, the film’s director, discovered his talent in the latter and was instantly captivated by his performance.

“He has this incredible ability to portray strength and masculinity, yet can switch to vulnerability in an instant,” Reijn comments. “And, of course, he looks absolutely stunning. I believe he is destined for greatness; he will become a massive star.”

Dickinson was intrigued by the nuanced themes present in Reijn’s script, which addresses “how far we can confront our inner struggles,” he explains. Romy, who is married with children, feels embarrassed about watching adult films and admits her husband (Antonio Banderas) has never satisfied her sexually. With Samuel, she starts to embrace her desires, switching between dominant and submissive roles during their intimate encounters.

“My biggest concern was figuring out how to approach those scenes authentically,” Dickinson shares. “There are many clichés in the erotic thriller genre, and Halina was always asking, ‘How can we challenge those? How do we shift between different roles?’ Working with Nicole was incredibly freeing. When we first met, she reassured me saying, ‘I’ve got your back. You’re in a safe space with me.’ ”

Dickinson was raised in a suburb of East London by a hairdresser mother and a social worker father, who encouraged him to express his feelings. However, he notes that peers often pressured him to suppress his emotions to appear tough, stating, “In school, if you showed any vulnerability, you were seen as a target.”

As a child, he participated in the Marine cadets and planned to join the Royal Marines after finishing school, believing the structure would suit him well. However, he was also active in theater productions and created YouTube sketches with friends, performing as various characters, from Bear Grylls to Harry Potter. Eventually, he decided to pursue acting more seriously by enrolling in local drama classes.

While attending auditions, Dickinson took on a variety of jobs, from delivering newspapers to folding clothes at Hollister. His favorite, however, was collecting trash in the park. “I honestly enjoyed it,” he chuckles. “It’s very focused work and quite calming.”

Harris Dickinson Might be Portraying John Lennon in an Upcoming Beatles Film

Harris Dickinson made his film debut at 21 years old in the critically praised “Beach Rats,” which was released in 2017. He recorded his audition from his childhood bedroom, and the coming-of-age film quickly propelled him into the Hollywood scene, leading to roles alongside notable actors like Ralph Fiennes in “The King’s Man,” Angelina Jolie in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” and Hilary Swank in the FX series “Trust.”

Like many rising stars, he attributes his grounded sense of success to his parents. They often remind him, “Don’t let success go to your head,” according to Dickinson. “In this industry, it’s easy to lose sight of that, but my family always emphasized humility. Remember, there are so many others doing amazing things, and we’re just a small part of it.”

As the holiday season approaches, Dickinson is looking forward to enjoying quality time with his cat, Misty Blue, bingeing “Forrest Gump” (a surprising holiday favorite), and perfecting his British roast. Additionally, he recently directed his first film, which addresses serious topics like trauma and homelessness but incorporates elements of magical realism. He is also frequently asked about his rumored role as John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopic.

Though he can neither confirm nor deny this speculation, Dickinson finds humor in the excitement surrounding the project.

“It’s a bit odd,” he remarks. “If you told my 14-year-old self, who was racing home with a doughnut to play Xbox, that I’d be in this situation someday, I would have just laughed at you.”

Even with his rapid rise, Dickinson sometimes feels like an imposter: “I don’t feel accomplished, which motivates me. I’m always trying to prove my worth – you’re judged by your last performance, right?”