Nicole Kidman
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Nicole Mary Kidman (born 20 June 1967) is an Australian and American actress and producer. Known for her work in film and television productions across many genres, she has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses since the late 1990s. Her accolades include an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
, two
Primetime Emmy Awards The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
, a
British Academy Film Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs or BAFTA Awards, is an annual film award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to f ...
, and six
Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual Awards ceremony, award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally ...
. Kidman began her career in Australia with the 1983 films ''
Bush Christmas ''Bush Christmas'' (also known as ''Prince and the Great Race'') is a 1983 Australian Christmas drama film and a remake of the 1947 film of the same name. The film marked actress Nicole Kidman's first feature film role. It was filmed on locatio ...
'' and '' BMX Bandits''. Her breakthrough came with lead roles in '' Dead Calm'' and the miniseries ''
Bangkok Hilton ''Bangkok Hilton'' is a three-part Australian mini-series made in 1989 by Kennedy Miller Productions and directed by Ken Cameron. The title of the mini-series is the nickname of a fictional Bangkok prison in which the main protagonist (Nicole ...
'' (both 1989). She came to international prominence with a supporting role in ''
Days of Thunder ''Days of Thunder'' is a 1990 American sports action drama film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, a ...
'' (1990) followed by leading roles in ''
Far and Away ''Far and Away'' is a 1992 American epic Western romantic adventure drama film directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Bob Dolman and a story by Howard and Dolman. It stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. This was the last cinematography cr ...
'' (1992), ''
To Die For ''To Die For'' is a 1995 satirical black comedy film directed by Gus Van Sant. It stars Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon, with Illeana Douglas, Wayne Knight, Casey Affleck, Holland Taylor, Kurtwood Smith, Dan Hedaya, an ...
'' (1995), ''
Batman Forever ''Batman Forever'' is a 1995 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. It is the third installment of the ''Batman'' film series, acting as a standalone sequel to ''Batman Returns''. Directe ...
'' (1995), ''
Practical Magic ''Practical Magic'' is a 1998 American romantic fantasy film based on the 1995 novel '' Practical Magic'' by Alice Hoffman. The film was directed by Griffin Dunne and stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, ...
'' (1998), and ''
Eyes Wide Shut ''Eyes Wide Shut'' is a 1999 erotic mystery psychological drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick. It is based on the 1926 novella '' Dream Story'' () by Arthur Schnitzler, transferring the story's setting from earl ...
'' (1999). She received consecutive nominations for the
Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a lead ...
for ''
Moulin Rouge! ''Moulin Rouge!'' (, ) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows an English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan ...
'' (2001) and '' The Hours'' (2002), winning for her portrayal of
Virginia Woolf Adeline Virginia Woolf (; ; 25 January 1882 28 March 1941) was an English writer and one of the most influential 20th-century modernist authors. She helped to pioneer the use of stream of consciousness narration as a literary device. Vir ...
in the latter. Her career continued with the box office successes '' The Others'' (2001), '' Cold Mountain'' (2003), '' The Golden Compass'' (2007), ''
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
'' (2008), and ''
Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...
'' (2014), and acclaimed
independent films An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (or, in ...
'' Rabbit Hole'' (2010) and ''
Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
'' (2016). For producing and starring in the
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
series '' Big Little Lies'' (2017–2019), Kidman won a Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She went on to star in further mainstream films such as the biographical dramas '' Bombshell'' (2019) and ''
Being the Ricardos ''Being the Ricardos'' is a 2021 American biographical drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, about the relationship between ''I Love Lucy'' stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Ball and Arnaz, w ...
'' (2021), and independent films ''
The Killing of a Sacred Deer ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' is a 2017 Absurdist fiction, absurdist psychological horror Thriller film, thriller film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Efthimis Filippou. It stars Colin Farr ...
'' (2017), '' The Beguiled'' (2017), ''
The Northman ''The Northman'' is a 2022 American epic action drama film directed by Robert Eggers, who the screenplay with Sjón. Based on the legend of Amleth from ''Gesta Danorum'' by Saxo Grammaticus, the film follows Amleth, an exiled Viking prince wh ...
'' (2022), and '' Babygirl'' (2024), winning the
Volpi Cup for Best Actress The Volpi Cup for Best Actress is an award presented by the Venice Film Festival. It is given by the festival jury in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance from the films in the competition slate. It is named in honor o ...
for her performance in the latter. Her other notable roles include the television series ''
Hemingway & Gellhorn ''Hemingway & Gellhorn'' is a 2012 American biographical drama television film directed by Philip Kaufman and written by Jerry Stahl and Barbara Turner, about the lives of journalist Martha Gellhorn (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, writer Er ...
'' (2012), '' Top of the Lake: China Girl'' (2017), ''
The Undoing ''The Undoing'' is an American mystery psychological thriller television miniseries based on the 2014 novel ''You Should Have Known'' by Jean Hanff Korelitz. It was written and produced by David E. Kelley and directed by Susanne Bier. The mi ...
'' (2020), ''
Nine Perfect Strangers ''Nine Perfect Strangers'' is a 2018 novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty. It was published on September 18, 2018 by Macmillan Australia. It is a ''New York Times'' Bestseller. Synopsis Nine people from different walks of life attend a ...
'' (2021–present), '' Special Ops: Lioness'' (2023), ''
Expats An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
'' (2024) and '' The Perfect Couple'' (2024). Kidman has served as a goodwill ambassador for
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
since 1994 and
UNWomen The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity charged with working for gender equality and the empowerment of women. UN Women is charged with advocating for the righ ...
since 2006. She was appointed Companion of the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
in 2006. Divorced from actor
Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Regarded as a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood icon, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Tom Cruise, various accolades, includ ...
and married to country musician
Keith Urban Keith Lionel Urban ( né Urbahn; 26 October 1967) is an Australian and American country singer, songwriter and guitarist. Recognised with four Grammy Awards, he has also received 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Jim Reeves Int ...
, she has two children from each relationship. In 2010, she founded the production company
Blossom Films Blossom Films is a production company founded by American-born Australian actress Nicole Kidman in 2010. The first production by the company was the film '' Rabbit Hole'', based on the play of the same name by David Lindsay-Abaire. Their logo fea ...
. Kidman has been recognised for her work with female directors in recent years. In 2004 and 2018, ''
Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' included her on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and in 2020, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' named her one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. She was also honored with a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...
in 2003, and in 2024, became the first Australian actor to receive the
AFI Life Achievement Award The AFI Life Achievement Award was established by the board of directors of the American Film Institute on February 26, 1973, to honor a single individual for their lifetime contribution to enriching American culture through motion pictures and ...
.


Early life

Nicole Mary Kidman was born on 20 June 1967 in
Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...
, Hawaii, while her Australian parents were temporarily in the United States on student visas. Her mother, Janelle Ann (née Glenny), a
nursing Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...
instructor and member of the Women's Electoral Lobby, edited her husband's books; her father, Antony Kidman, was a
biochemist Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. They study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. Biochemists study DNA, proteins and Cell (biology), cell parts. The word "biochemist" is a portmanteau of ...
,
clinical psychologist Clinical psychology is an integration of human science, behavioral science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well ...
, and author. She has a younger sister,
Antonia Antonia may refer to: People * Antonia (name), including a list of people with the name * Antonia gens, a Roman family, any woman of the gens was named ''Antonia'' * Antônia (footballer) * Antônia Melo Entertainment * '' Antonia's Line'', o ...
, who is a journalist and television presenter. Having been born in the US to Australian parents, Kidman holds
dual Dual or Duals may refer to: Paired/two things * Dual (mathematics), a notion of paired concepts that mirror one another ** Dual (category theory), a formalization of mathematical duality *** see more cases in :Duality theories * Dual number, a nu ...
Australian and US citizenship. She has English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Being born in Hawaii, she was given the Hawaiian name "Hōkūlani" (), meaning "heavenly star". The inspiration came from a baby elephant born around the same time at the
Honolulu Zoo The Honolulu Zoo is a zoo in Queen Kapiʻolani Park in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the only zoo in the United States to be established by grants made by a sovereign monarch and is built on part of the royal Queen Kapiʻolani Park. The Honolulu ...
. When Kidman was born, her father was a graduate student at the
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Hawaiʻi system and houses the main offic ...
. He became a visiting fellow at the
National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH, in turn, is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primar ...
. While living in
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, following Kidman's birth during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, her parents participated in
anti-Vietnam War protests Protests against the Vietnam War took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The protests were part of a movement in opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War. The majority of the protests were in the United States, but some took place aro ...
. Her family eventually returned to Australia three years later. She grew up in Longueville,
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
where she attended Lane Cove Public School and
North Sydney Girls High School North Sydney Girls' High School (abbreviated as NSGHS, more commonly known as NSG) is a government-funded single-sex academically selective secondary day school for girls, located in Crows Nest, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Esta ...
. She was enrolled in
ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
at the age of three and showed her natural talent for acting during her primary and high school years. Kidman has said she first aspired to become an actress upon watching Margaret Hamilton's performance as the
Wicked Witch of the West The Wicked Witch of the West, a fictional character in the classic children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900) by the American author L. Frank Baum, is the evil ruler of the Winkie Country, the western region in the Land of Oz. ...
in ''
The Wizard of Oz ''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...
''. She revealed that she was timid as a child, saying, "I am very shy – really shy – I even had a stutter as a kid, which I slowly got over, but I still regress into that shyness. So I don't like walking into a crowded restaurant by myself; I don't like going to a party by myself." During her teenage years, she attended the
Phillip Street Theatre The Phillip Street Theatre (succeeded by the Phillip Theatre) was a popular and influential Australian theatre and theatrical company, located in Phillip Street in Sydney that was active from 1954 and 1971 that became well known for its intimate ...
, alongside fellow actress
Naomi Watts Naomi Ellen Watts (born 28 September 1968) is a British actress. Known for her work predominantly in independent films with dark or tragic themes, she has received various accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, a Primetime ...
, and the
Australian Theatre for Young People Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) is the flagship youth theatre company located in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, New South Wales, Australia. It was founded in 1963 by Eleanor Witcombe. History The first committee was formed in 1963 and ...
, where she took up drama and mime as she found acting to be a refuge. Owing to her fair skin and naturally red hair, the sun drove her to rehearse in the halls of the theatre. A regular at the Phillip Street Theatre, she was encouraged to pursue acting full-time, which she did by dropping out of high school.


Career


Early work and breakthrough (1983–1994)

In 1983, 16-year-old Kidman made her film debut in a remake of the Australian holiday classic ''
Bush Christmas ''Bush Christmas'' (also known as ''Prince and the Great Race'') is a 1983 Australian Christmas drama film and a remake of the 1947 film of the same name. The film marked actress Nicole Kidman's first feature film role. It was filmed on locatio ...
''. By the end of that year, she had a supporting role in the television series ''
Five Mile Creek ''Five Mile Creek'' is a western television drama series adapted from Louis L'Amour's novel ''The Cherokee Trail'' and produced in Australia. It starred Liz Burch, Louise Caire Clark, Rod Mullinar, Jay Kerr, Michael Caton, Peter Carroll, ...
''. In 1984, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which caused Kidman to halt her acting work temporarily while she studied
massage therapy Massage is the rubbing or kneading of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet, or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pa ...
to help her mother with physical therapy. She began gaining recognition during this decade after appearing in several Australian films, such as the action comedy '' BMX Bandits'' (1983) and the romantic comedy '' Windrider'' (1986). Throughout the rest of the 1980s, she appeared in various Australian television programs, including the 1987 miniseries ''
Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
'', for which she won her first
Australian Film Institute Award The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the film and television industry, ...
. Kidman next appeared in the Australian film ''
Emerald City The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's ''Oz'' books, first described in '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900). Fictional description Located in the center of ...
'' (1988), based on the play of the same name, which earned her a second Australian Film Institute Award. She then starred alongside
Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile acto ...
in the 1989 thriller '' Dead Calm'' as Rae Ingram, the wife of a naval officer who is menaced by a castaway at sea, played by
Billy Zane William George Zane Jr. (born February 24, 1966) is an American actor. His breakthrough role was in the Australian film ''Dead Calm (film), Dead Calm'' (1989), a performance that earned him a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association, ...
. The film proved to be her
breakthrough role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the theatre, film and television industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of crit ...
, one of the first films for which she gained international recognition. Regarding her performance, ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' commented how "throughout the film, Kidman is excellent. She gives the character of Rae real tenacity and energy." Meanwhile, critic
Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...
noted the excellent chemistry between the leads, stating, "Kidman and Zane do generate real, palpable hatred in their scenes together." She followed that up with the Australian miniseries ''
Bangkok Hilton ''Bangkok Hilton'' is a three-part Australian mini-series made in 1989 by Kennedy Miller Productions and directed by Ken Cameron. The title of the mini-series is the nickname of a fictional Bangkok prison in which the main protagonist (Nicole ...
'' before moving on to star alongside her then-boyfriend and future ex-husband,
Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Regarded as a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood icon, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Tom Cruise, various accolades, includ ...
, in the 1990 sports action film ''
Days of Thunder ''Days of Thunder'' is a 1990 American sports action drama film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, a ...
'', as a young doctor who falls in love with a
NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top ranked motorsports organizations in ...
driver. It was considered her international breakout film and was among the year's highest-grossing films. In 1991, Kidman co-starred alongside
Thandiwe Newton Melanie Thandiwe Newton ( ; born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton ( ), is a British actress. She has received various awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and a BAFTA Award, as well as nominations for two Golden Globe ...
and former classmate Naomi Watts in the Australian independent film ''
Flirting Flirting or coquetry is a social and sexual behavior involving body language, or spoken or written communication between humans. It is used to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with another person and for amusement. Flirting can chang ...
''. They portrayed high school girls in this
coming of age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can b ...
story, which won the
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film The AACTA Award for Best Film is an award presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) at the annual AACTA Awards, which hand out accolades for achievements in feature film, television, documentaries, and short film ...
. That same year, her work in the film ''
Billy Bathgate ''Billy Bathgate'' is a 1989 novel by author E. L. Doctorow that won the 1989 National Book Critics Circle award for fiction for 1990, the 1990 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the 1990 William Dean Howells Medal, and was the runner-up for the ...
'' earned Kidman her first
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
nomination, for Best Supporting Actress. ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', in its film review, called her "a beauty with, it seems, a sense of humor". The following year, she and Cruise re-teamed for
Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard started his career as a child actor before transitioning to directing films. Over his six-decade career, Howard has received List of awards and nominations r ...
's Irish epic ''
Far and Away ''Far and Away'' is a 1992 American epic Western romantic adventure drama film directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Bob Dolman and a story by Howard and Dolman. It stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. This was the last cinematography cr ...
'' (1992), which was a modest critical and commercial success. In 1993, she starred in the thriller '' Malice'', opposite
Alec Baldwin Alexander Rae Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his leading and supporting roles in a variety of genres, from comedy to drama. He has received List of awards and nominations received by A ...
, and the drama '' My Life'', opposite
Michael Keaton Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), known professionally as Michael Keaton, is an American actor. He has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for an Aca ...
.


Critical acclaim and worldwide recognition (1995–2003)

In 1995, Kidman played
Dr. Chase Meridian The Batman supporting characters are fictional characters that appear in the American comic books published by DC Comics featuring the superhero Batman as the main protagonist. "Batman family" or "Bat-Family" is the informal term for Batman's clo ...
, the
damsel in distress The damsel in distress is a narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has been kidnapped or placed in other peril. The "damsel" is often portrayed as beautiful, popular, and of high social status; she is usually depicted ...
, in the superhero film ''
Batman Forever ''Batman Forever'' is a 1995 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. It is the third installment of the ''Batman'' film series, acting as a standalone sequel to ''Batman Returns''. Directe ...
'', opposite
Val Kilmer Val Edward Kilmer (December 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025) was an American actor. Initially a stage actor, he later found fame as a Leading actor, leading man in films in a wide variety of genres, including Comedy film, comedies, dramas, action fi ...
as the film's
title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...
. That same year, she starred in
Gus Van Sant Gus Green Van Sant Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American filmmaker, photographer, painter, and musician. He has earned acclaim as an independent film, independent auteur. His films typically deal with themes of marginalized subcultures. His ...
's critically acclaimed dark comedy ''
To Die For ''To Die For'' is a 1995 satirical black comedy film directed by Gus Van Sant. It stars Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon, with Illeana Douglas, Wayne Knight, Casey Affleck, Holland Taylor, Kurtwood Smith, Dan Hedaya, an ...
'', in which she played the murderous newscaster Suzanne Stone. Regarding her performance,
Mick LaSalle Mick LaSalle (born May 7, 1959) is an American film critic and the author of two books on pre-Code Hollywood. Up to March 2008, he had written more than 1,550 reviews for the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' and he has been podcasting them since Sep ...
of the ''
San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. ...
'' said " hebrings to the role layers of meaning, intention and impulse. Telling her story in close-up – as she does throughout the film – Kidman lets you see the calculation, the wheels turning, the transparent efforts to charm that succeed in charming all the same." For her performance in the film, she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. In the following years, she appeared alongside
Barbara Hershey Barbara Lynn Herzstein, better known as Barbara Hershey (born February 5, 1948), is an American actress. In a career spanning more than 50 years, she has played a variety of roles on television and in cinema in several genres, including Wester ...
and
John Malkovich John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and ...
in ''
The Portrait of a Lady ''The Portrait of a Lady'' is a novel by Henry James, first published as a serial in ''The Atlantic Monthly'' and '' Macmillan's Magazine'' in 1880–81 and then as a book in 1881. It is one of James's most popular novels and is regarded by cr ...
'' (1996), based on the novel of the same name, and starred in ''
The Peacemaker Peacemaker or The Peacemaker may refer to: Individuals and groups * UN Peacemaker, a project of the UN to support international peacemakers and mediators * Peace makers, a list of contemporary individuals and organizations involved in peacemak ...
'' (1997) as nuclear expert Dr. Julia Kelly, opposite
George Clooney George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. Known for his leading man roles on screen in both blockbuster and independent films, Clooney has received numerous accolades, including two Ac ...
. The latter film grossed US$110 million worldwide. In 1998, she starred alongside
Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock (; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress and film producer. The List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress of 2010 and 2014, Sandra Bullock filmography, Bullock's filmography spans both comedy and drama, ...
in the romantic comedy ''
Practical Magic ''Practical Magic'' is a 1998 American romantic fantasy film based on the 1995 novel '' Practical Magic'' by Alice Hoffman. The film was directed by Griffin Dunne and stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, ...
'' as two witch sisters who face a threatening curse that prevents them from finding lasting love. While the film opened at the top of the charts during its North American opening weekend, it was a commercial failure at the box office. She returned to the stage that same year for the David Hare play '' The Blue Room'', which opened in London. For her performance, she received a
Laurence Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in West End theatre, professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of We ...
nomination for Best Actress. In 1999, Kidman reunited with then-husband Tom Cruise to portray a couple on a sexual odyssey in ''
Eyes Wide Shut ''Eyes Wide Shut'' is a 1999 erotic mystery psychological drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick. It is based on the 1926 novella '' Dream Story'' () by Arthur Schnitzler, transferring the story's setting from earl ...
'', their third film together and the final film of director
Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...
. It was subject to censorship controversies due to the explicit nature of its sex scenes. After a brief hiatus and a highly publicised divorce from Cruise, Kidman returned to the screen to play a
mail-order bride A mail-order bride is a woman who lists herself in catalogs and is selected by a man for marriage. In the twentieth century, the trend primarily involved women living in developing countries seeking men from more developed nations. Men who list t ...
in the British-American drama ''
Birthday Girl Birthday Girl may refer to: * "Birthday Girl" (short story), by Haruki Murakami, 2002 * ''Birthday Girl'' (2001 film), an erotic comedy thriller directed by Jez Butterworth * Birthday Girl (2023 film), a Danish thriller film *''Birthday Girl'', a ...
''. In 2001, she took on the role of
cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
actress and
courtesan A courtesan is a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele. Historically, the term referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other powerful person. History In European feudal society, the co ...
Satine in
Baz Luhrmann Mark Anthony "Baz" Luhrmann (born 17 September 1962) is an Australian film director, producer, writer, and actor whose various projects extend from film and television into opera, theatre, music, and the recording industries. He is regarded by ...
's musical ''
Moulin Rouge! ''Moulin Rouge!'' (, ) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows an English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan ...
'', opposite
Ewan McGregor Ewan Gordon McGregor ( ; born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama and ...
. Her performance and her singing received positive reviews; Paul Clinton of
CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
called it her best work since ''To Die For'', and wrote " heis smoldering and stunning as Satine. She moves with total confidence throughout the film ... Kidman seems to specialize in 'ice queen' characters, but with Satine, she allows herself to thaw, just a bit." She subsequently received her second Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, among several other awards and nominations, including her first nomination for the
Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a lead ...
. Also in 2001, Kidman starred in
Alejandro Amenábar Alejandro Fernando Amenábar Cantos (born 31 March 1972) is a Chilean-Spanish film director, screenwriter and composer. He has won nine Goya Awards—including Best Director for his 2001 film '' The Others''—and two European Film Awards amon ...
's psychological horror film '' The Others'' (2001) as Grace Stewart, a mother living in the Channel Islands during World War II who suspects her house is haunted. Grossing over US$210 million worldwide, her performance earned her several award nominations, including a
Goya Award The Goya Awards () are Spain's main national annual film awards. They are presented by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. The first ceremony was held in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Ar ...
nomination for
Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress award ...
, in addition to receiving her second
BAFTA Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs or BAFTA Awards, is an annual film award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to f ...
and fifth Golden Globe Award nominations.
Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...
commented that "Alejandro Amenábar has the patience to create a languorous, dreamy atmosphere, and Nicole Kidman succeeds in convincing us that she is a normal person in a disturbing situation, and not just a standard-issue horror movie hysteric."
A. O. Scott Anthony Oliver Scott (born July 10, 1966) is an American journalist and cultural critic, known for his film and literary criticism. After starting his career at ''The New York Review of Books'', '' Variety'', and ''Slate'', he began writing film ...
of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' highlighted Kidman's performance, writing that she "embodies this unstable amalgam with a conviction that is in itself terrifying. The icy reserve that sometimes stands in the way of her expressive gifts here becomes the foundation of her most emotionally layered performance to date." The following year, Kidman garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of
Virginia Woolf Adeline Virginia Woolf (; ; 25 January 1882 28 March 1941) was an English writer and one of the most influential 20th-century modernist authors. She helped to pioneer the use of stream of consciousness narration as a literary device. Vir ...
in
Stephen Daldry Stephen David Daldry Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 2 May 1960) is an English director and producer of film, theatre, and television. He has won three Tony Awards for his work on Broadway theatre, Broadway and an Olivie ...
's '' The Hours'', co-starring alongside
Meryl Streep Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Known for her versatility and adept accent work, she has been described as "the best actress of her generation". She has received numerous accolades throughout her career ...
and
Julianne Moore Julie Anne Smith (born December 3, 1960), known professionally as Julianne Moore, is an American actress and children's author. Prolific in film since the early 1990s, she is known for her portrayals of emotionally troubled women in independent ...
. Kidman wore prosthetics, which were applied to her nose, to portray the author during the 1920s in England, making her look almost unrecognisable. The film was a critical success, earning several awards and nominations, including a nomination for the
Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film a ...
. ''The New York Times'' wrote that "Ms. Kidman, in a performance of astounding bravery, evokes the savage inner war waged by a brilliant mind against a system of faulty wiring that transmits a searing, crazy static into her brain." She won numerous critic and industry awards for her performance, including her first BAFTA Award, third
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
, and the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first Australian to win the award. During her Oscar's acceptance speech, she referenced the
Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...
which was occurring at the time when speaking about the importance of art saying, "Why do you come to the Academy Awards when the world is in such turmoil? Because art is important. And because you believe in what you do and you want to honour that, and it is a tradition that needs to be upheld." That same year, she was named the World's Most Beautiful Person by ''
People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...
'' magazine. Following her Oscar win, Kidman appeared in three distinctly different films in 2003. The first of those, a leading role in director
Lars von Trier Lars von Trier (né Trier; born 30 April 1956) is a Danish film director and screenwriter. Beginning in the late-1960s as a child actor working on Danish television series ''Secret Summer'', von Trier's career has spanned more than five decad ...
's ''
Dogville ''Dogville'' is a 2003 experimental drama film written and directed by Lars von Trier. It features an ensemble cast led by Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany, Chloë Sevigny, Stellan Skarsgård, Udo Kier, Ben Gazzara, Patricia Clarks ...
'', was an
experimental film Experimental film or avant-garde cinema is a mode of filmmaking that does not apply standard cinematic conventions, instead adopting Non-narrative film, non-narrative forms or alternatives to traditional narratives or methods of working. Many e ...
set on a bare
soundstage A sound stage (also written soundstage) is a large, soundproof structure, building or room with large doors and high ceilings, used for the production of theatrical film-making and television productions, usually located on a secured movie or te ...
. Though the film divided critics in the United States, Kidman earned praise for her performance. Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' stated, "Kidman gives the most emotionally bruising performance of her career in ''Dogville'', a movie that never met a cliche it didn't stomp on." The second film was an adaptation of
Philip Roth Philip Milton Roth (; March 19, 1933 – May 22, 2018) was an American novelist and short-story writer. Roth's fiction—often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey—is known for its intensely autobiographical character, for philosophical ...
's novel ''
The Human Stain ''The Human Stain'' is a novel by Philip Roth, published May 5, 2000. The book is set in Western Massachusetts in the late 1990s. Its narrator is 65-year-old author Nathan Zuckerman, who appears in several earlier Roth novels, including two boo ...
'', opposite
Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...
. Her third film that year was
Anthony Minghella Anthony Minghella (6 January 195418 March 2008) was a British film director, playwright, and screenwriter. He was chairman of the board of Governors at the British Film Institute between 2003 and 2007. He directed ''Truly, Madly, Deeply (film), ...
's war drama '' Cold Mountain'', where she starred opposite
Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre before landing small roles in various British television productions and feature films. Law gained international recognition for his role in An ...
and
Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger ( ; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Renée Zellweger, various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four ...
, playing Southern United States, southerner Ada Monroe, a woman who falls in love with Law's character. They became separated by the American Civil War. Regarding her performance, ''Time'' magazine wrote, "Kidman takes strength from Ada's plight and grows steadily, literally luminous. Her sculptural pallor gives way to warm radiance in the firelight." The film garnered several awards and nominations, most notably for the performances of the cast, with Kidman receiving her sixth Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress.


Established actress (2004–2009)

In 2004, Kidman starred in the drama film ''Birth (2004 film), Birth'', which sparked controversy over a scene in which she shares a bath with her co-star Cameron Bright, then aged ten. During a press conference at the 61st Venice International Film Festival, she addressed the controversy, saying, "It wasn't that I wanted to make a film where I kiss a 10-year-old boy. I wanted to make a film where you understand love." For her performance, she received her seventh Golden Globe nomination. That same year, she starred alongside Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken and Glenn Close in the black comedy science-fiction film ''The Stepford Wives (2004 film), The Stepford Wives'', a remake of the The Stepford Wives (1975 film), 1975 film of the same name, directed by Frank Oz. The following year, she starred opposite Sean Penn in the Sydney Pollack thriller ''The Interpreter (2005 film), The Interpreter'', playing UN translator Silvia Broome, and starred alongside Will Ferrell in the romantic comedy ''Bewitched (2005 film), Bewitched'', based on the Bewitched, 1960s TV sitcom of the same name. While neither film performed well in the United States, both were international successes. For the latter film, she and Ferrell earned the Golden Raspberry Award, Razzie Award for Worst Screen Couple. In conjunction with her success within the film industry, Kidman became the face of the Chanel No. 5 perfume brand. She starred in a television and print ads campaign with Rodrigo Santoro, directed by ''Moulin Rouge!'' director Baz Luhrmann, to promote the fragrance during the holiday seasons of 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008. ''No. 5 the Film'', a three-minute commercial produced for Chanel No. 5, made Kidman the record holder for the most money paid per minute to an actor after she reportedly earned US$12 million for the three-minute advert. During this time, she was also featured as the 45th Most Powerful Celebrity on ''Forbes'' 2005 Celebrity 100 List. She reportedly earned US$14.5 million between 2004 and 2005. On ''People (American magazine), People'' magazine's list of 2005's highest-paid actresses, Kidman came in second behind Julia Roberts, with a US$16–17 million per-film price tag. In 2006, Kidman portrayed photographer Diane Arbus in the biographical film ''Fur (movie), Fur'', opposite Robert Downey Jr., and lent her voice to the animated film ''Happy Feet'', which grossed over US$384 million worldwide, becoming her highest-grossing film at the time. The following year, she starred in the science-fiction film ''The Invasion (film), The Invasion'', a remake of the 1956 ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'', directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, and starred opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black in Noah Baumbach's comedy-drama ''Margot at the Wedding'', which earned her a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy. Also in 2007, she starred as the main antagonist Marisa Coulter in the fantasy-adventure film '' The Golden Compass'', which grossed over US$370 million worldwide, also becoming one of her highest-grossing films to date. The following year, Kidman reunited with ''Moulin Rouge!'' director Baz Luhrmann for the Australian period film ''
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
'' (2008), set in the remote Northern Territory during the Bombing of Darwin (February 1942), Japanese attack on Darwin during World War II. Starring opposite Hugh Jackman, she played an Englishwoman feeling overwhelmed by the continent. Though the film received mixed reviews from critics, it turned out to be a box office success, grossing over $211 million worldwide against a budget of $130 million. In 2009, she appeared in the Rob Marshall musical ''Nine (2009 live-action film), Nine'', portraying the muses, muse Claudia Jenssen, alongside an ensemble cast consisting of Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie (singer), Fergie, Kate Hudson and Sophia Loren. Kidman, whose screen time was brief in comparison to the other actresses, performed the musical number "Unusual Way" alongside Day-Lewis. The film received several Golden Globe Award and Academy Award nominations, with Kidman earning her fourth Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, as part of the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award.


Biographical and independent films (2010–2016)

Kidman began the 2010s by producing and starring in the Rabbit Hole (2010 film), film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play ''Rabbit Hole (play), Rabbit Hole'', alongside Aaron Eckhart. Her performance as a grieving mother coping with the death of her son earned her critical acclaim, and she received nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress. The following year, she appeared with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in Dennis Dugan's romantic comedy ''Just Go with It'', as a trophy wife, and subsequently starred alongside Nicolas Cage in director Joel Schumacher's action-thriller ''Trespass (2011 film), Trespass'', with the stars playing a married couple taken hostage. In 2012, Kidman starred alongside Clive Owen in the
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
film ''
Hemingway & Gellhorn ''Hemingway & Gellhorn'' is a 2012 American biographical drama television film directed by Philip Kaufman and written by Jerry Stahl and Barbara Turner, about the lives of journalist Martha Gellhorn (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, writer Er ...
'', which depicted the relationship between journalist couple Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn. For her performance as Gellhorn, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. That same year, she portrayed death row groupie Charlotte Bless in Lee Daniels' adaptation of the Pete Dexter novel, ''The Paperboy (novel), The Paperboy'' (2012). The film competed at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and Kidman's performance garnered her nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, in addition to her second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, her tenth nomination overall. Also in 2012, her audiobook recording of Virginia Woolf's ''To the Lighthouse'' was released through Audible (service), Audible. The following year she starred as an unstable mother in Park Chan-wook's ''Stoker (film), Stoker'', which was released to positive reception and a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In April 2013, she was selected as a member of the main competition jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. In 2014, Kidman starred as the Grace Kelly, titular character in the biographical film ''Grace of Monaco (film), Grace of Monaco'', which chronicles the 1962 crisis in which Charles de Gaulle blockaded the tiny principality, angered by Monaco's status as a tax haven for wealthy French subjects and Kelly's contemplative Hollywood return to star in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Marnie (film), Marnie''. Opening out of competition at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, the film received largely negative reviews. She also starred in two films with Colin Firth that year, the first being the British-Australian historical drama ''The Railway Man (film), The Railway Man'', in which she played an officer's wife. Katherine Monk of the Montreal Gazette said of Kidman's performance, "It's a truly masterful piece of acting that transcends Teplitzky's store-bought framing, but it's Kidman who delivers the biggest surprise: For the first time since her eyebrows turned into solid marble arches, the Australian Oscar winner is truly terrific". Her second film with Firth was the British thriller film ''Before I Go to Sleep'', portraying a car crash survivor with brain damage. Also in 2014, she appeared in the live-action animated comedy film ''
Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...
'' as the film's main antagonist. In 2015, Kidman starred in the drama ''Strangerland'', which opened at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and the Jason Bateman-directed ''The Family Fang (film), The Family Fang'', produced by Kidman's production company,
Blossom Films Blossom Films is a production company founded by American-born Australian actress Nicole Kidman in 2010. The first production by the company was the film '' Rabbit Hole'', based on the play of the same name by David Lindsay-Abaire. Their logo fea ...
, which premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. In her other 2015 film release, the biographical drama ''Queen of the Desert (film), Queen of the Desert'', she portrayed writer, traveller, political officer, administrator and archaeologist Gertrude Bell. That same year, she played a district attorney, opposite Julia Roberts and Chiwetel Ejiofor, in the film ''Secret in Their Eyes'', a remake of the The Secret in Their Eyes, 2009 Argentine film of the same name, both based on the novel ''La pregunta de sus ojos'' by author Eduardo Sacheri. After more than 15 years, she returned to the West End theatre, West End in the UK premiere of ''Photograph 51 (play), Photograph 51'' at the Noël Coward Theatre. She starred as British scientist Rosalind Franklin, working for the discovery of the structure of DNA, in the production from 5 September to 21 November 2015, directed by Michael Grandage. The production was met with considerable praise from critics, particularly for Kidman, and her return to the West End was hailed a success. For her performance, she won an Evening Standard Theatre Award and received a second Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress. In 2016's ''
Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
'', Kidman portrayed Sue, the adoptive mother of Saroo Brierley, an Indian boy who was separated from his birth family, a role she felt connected to as she is the mother of adopted children. She received positive reviews for her performance, in addition to her first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, her fourth nomination overall, and her eleventh Golden Globe Award nomination, among several others. Richard Roeper of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' thought that "Kidman gives a powerful and moving performance as Saroo's adoptive mother, who loves her son with every molecule of her being, but comes to understand his quest. It's as good as anything she's done in the last decade." Budgeted at US$12 million, ''Lion'' earned over US$140 million globally. She also gave a voice-over performance for the English version of the animated film ''Little Door Gods, The Guardian Brothers''.


Television expansion and continued acclaim (2017–2020)

In 2017, Kidman returned to television for '' Big Little Lies'', a drama series based on Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies (novel), novel of the same name, which premiered on HBO. She also served as executive producer alongside her co-star, Reese Witherspoon, and the show's director, Jean-Marc Vallée. She played Celeste Wright, a former lawyer and housewife, who conceals an abusive relationship with her husband, played by Alexander Skarsgård. Matthew Jacobs of ''HuffPost, The Huffington Post'' considered that she "delivered a career-defining performance", while Ann Hornaday of ''The Washington Post'' wrote that "Kidman belongs in the pantheon of great actresses". She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her performance, as well as the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series as a producer. She also received a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Critics' Choice Television Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for her work in the show. Kidman next played Martha Farnsworth, the headmistress of an all-girls school during the American Civil War, in Sofia Coppola's drama '' The Beguiled'', a remake of the The Beguiled (1971 film), 1971 film of the same name, which premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or. Both films were adaptations of a novel by Thomas P. Cullinan. The film was an arthouse success, and Katie Walsh of the ''Tribune News Service'' found Kidman "particularly, unsurprisingly excellent in her performance as the steely Miss Martha. She is controlled and in control, unflappable. Her genteel manners and femininity co-exist easily with her toughness." Kidman had two other films premiere at the festival: the science-fiction romantic comedy ''How to Talk to Girls at Parties (film), How to Talk to Girls at Parties'', reuniting her with director John Cameron Mitchell, and the psychological thriller ''
The Killing of a Sacred Deer ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' is a 2017 Absurdist fiction, absurdist psychological horror Thriller film, thriller film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Efthimis Filippou. It stars Colin Farr ...
'', directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, which also competed for the Palme d'Or. Also in 2017, she played supporting roles in the BBC Two television series ''Top of the Lake#Top of the Lake: China Girl 3, Top of the Lake: China Girl'' and in the comedy-drama ''The Upside'', a remake of the 2011 French comedy ''The Intouchables'', starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart. In 2018, Kidman starred in two dramas, ''Destroyer (2018 film), Destroyer'' and ''Boy Erased''. In the former, she played a detective troubled by a case for two decades. Peter Debruge of ''Variety'' and Brooke Marine of ''W'' both found her "unrecognizable" in the role and Debruge added that "she disappears into an entirely new skin, rearranging her insides to fit the character's tough hide", whereas Marine highlighted Kidman's method acting. The latter film is based on Garrard Conley's ''Boy Erased: A Memoir'', and features Russell Crowe and Kidman as socially conservative parents who send their son (played by Lucas Hedges) to a Conversion therapy, gay conversion program. Richard Lawson of ''Vanity Fair'' credited all three performers for "elevating the fairly standard-issue material to poignant highs". That same year, Kidman took on the role of Atlanna, Queen Atlanna, the mother of the Aquaman, title character, in the DC Extended Universe superhero film ''Aquaman (film), Aquaman'', which grossed over US$1.1 billion worldwide, becoming her highest-grossing film to date. Also in 2018, she was interviewed for a BAFTA event ''A Life in Pictures'', where she reflected on her extensive film career. ''Forbes'' ranked her as the fourth highest-paid actress in the world in 2019, with an annual income of $34 million. Kidman kicked off 2019 by reprising her role in the second season of the hit series ''Big Little Lies'', which premiered in June. The second season not only drew a larger audience than the first but also became the most-watched night of viewing for an HBO original series that year. In September 2019, she took on the supporting part of a rich socialite in John Crowley (director), John Crowley's drama ''The Goldfinch (film), The Goldfinch'', an adaptation of the The Goldfinch (novel), novel of the same name by Donna Tartt, starring Ansel Elgort. Although it was poorly received, Owen Gleiberman commended Kidman for playing her part with "elegant affection". She next co-starred alongside Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie in the drama '' Bombshell'', a film depicting the scandal concerning the sexual harassment accusations against former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, in which she portrayed journalist Gretchen Carlson. Manohla Dargis of ''The New York Times'' opined that despite lesser screen time than her two co-protagonists, Kidman successfully made Carlson "ever-so-slightly ridiculous, adding a sharp sliver of comedy that underscores how self-serving and futile her rebellious gestures at the network are". For her performance, she received an additional Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Kidman started off the 2020s with her role of Grace Fraser, a successful New York therapist, in the HBO psychological thriller miniseries ''The Undoing (miniseries), The Undoing'', based on the novel ''You Should Have Known'' by Jean Hanff Korelitz. She served as executive producer alongside the show's director, Susanne Bier, and David E. Kelley, who previously adapted and produced ''Big Little Lies''. Throughout its season, the series gained increasing momentum and broke records. HBO celebrated a historic achievement as the show became the network's first original series to increase its viewership consistently week by week. The finale marked the most-watched night on HBO since the season 2 finale of '' Big Little Lies''. Furthermore, the series surpassed ''Big Little Lies'' to become HBO's most-watched show of 2020 based on audience numbers. For her performance, she received additional Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Her only film release of 2020 was the musical comedy ''The Prom (film), The Prom'', based on the The Prom (musical), Broadway musical of the same name, starring alongside Meryl Streep, James Corden and Keegan-Michael Key.


Television and independent films (2021–present)

In August 2021, she starred and served as executive producer on the Hulu drama series ''
Nine Perfect Strangers ''Nine Perfect Strangers'' is a 2018 novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty. It was published on September 18, 2018 by Macmillan Australia. It is a ''New York Times'' Bestseller. Synopsis Nine people from different walks of life attend a ...
'', based on the Nine Perfect Strangers, novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it was reported that the premiere of the show became the most-watched Hulu original on its premiere day and continued to hold that title after five days on the service. That same year, she portrayed actress-comedian Lucille Ball alongside Javier Bardem as Ball's husband, Desi Arnaz, in the biographical drama ''
Being the Ricardos ''Being the Ricardos'' is a 2021 American biographical drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, about the relationship between ''I Love Lucy'' stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Ball and Arnaz, w ...
'', directed by Aaron Sorkin. Despite unfavourable reactions in response to her casting as Ball, her portrayal was met with critical acclaim. She subsequently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her performance, in addition to receiving nominations for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, as well as her fourth Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, her fifth nomination overall. In September 2021, Kidman starred in a commercial for AMC Theatres entitled "We Make Movies Better", which would play before every film in the theatres owned by the chain beginning that month and Kidman's sponsorship was later extended for another year in August 2022. The commercial and Kidman's delivery of her speech proved popular with audiences who viewed it as a way to drive moviegoers back to seeing films theatrically in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. AMC's CEO Adam Aron described Nicole Kidman AMC Theatres commercial, Kidman's viral ad as "iconic and revered" during a 2022 earnings call and
CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
reported that the ad "has inspired memes, homages and debate" and became a "cultural thing". In April 2022, Kidman appeared in an episode of the anthology series ''Roar (2022 TV series), Roar'', based on Cecelia Ahern's Roar (short story collection), 2018 short story collection, in addition to serving as executive producer. The miniseries attracted mixed attention due to its unconventional and controversial feminist themes. That same month, she starred alongside her ''Big Little Lies'' co-star Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe in the historical drama ''
The Northman ''The Northman'' is a 2022 American epic action drama film directed by Robert Eggers, who the screenplay with Sjón. Based on the legend of Amleth from ''Gesta Danorum'' by Saxo Grammaticus, the film follows Amleth, an exiled Viking prince wh ...
'', directed by Robert Eggers. The film was received with widespread acclaim upon its release. In 2023, Kidman began starring in the Paramount+ television series '' Special Ops: Lioness'', on which she also serves as an executive producer. The miniseries received mixed attention upon release and reviewer Anita Singh of ''The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph'' criticised "the one thing that lets the show down is Nicole Kidman as a CIA boss, whose frozen face these days is a total distraction". Initially, reviewer Mike Hale, writing for ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', remarked that the show resembled many other counterterrorism thrillers, noting its visceral action and somewhat artificial setting in the first episode. However, upon further reflection, he found that the show evolved into a moody, suspenseful, and intricately crafted genre piece with compelling characters. In December 2023, Kidman reprised the role of Queen Atlanna in the sequel to the 2018 superhero film ''Aquaman'', titled ''Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom''. ''Forbes'' ranked her as the List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress in the world in 2024, with an annual income of $31 million. In January 2024, Kidman starred in and served as executive producer of the drama television series ''
Expats An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
.'' Her performance garnered mixed reviews from critics. In June 2024, she reunited with her ''The Paperboy (2012 film), The Paperboy'' co-star Zac Efron in Netflix's ''A Family Affair (2024 film), A Family Affair''. Although it received mixed reviews from critics, the film was well received by audiences. It achieved the #1 spot among Netflix originals during its first weekend and maintained a strong position at #2 on the second weekend of its release. Kidman portrayed a high-ranking CEO in the A24 erotic thriller '' Babygirl'' written and directed by Halina Reijn. Robbie Collin of ''The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph'' highlighted Kidman's work as "ferociously good, convincing utterly as this formerly level-headed careerist whose deeply buried, long-denied appetites are simultaneously proving her making and downfall." For her performance, she received the
Volpi Cup for Best Actress The Volpi Cup for Best Actress is an award presented by the Venice Film Festival. It is given by the festival jury in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance from the films in the competition slate. It is named in honor o ...
at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. Kidman was absent from the ceremony due to the death of her mother. She was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and subsequently earned her first National Board of Review Award for Best Actress, Best Actress win at National Board of Review, National Board of Review Awards for her performance. In September 2024, Kidman starred in, and served as executive producer on the Netflix series '' The Perfect Couple'', based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel. The series received mixed reviews from critics with many reviews criticizing Kidman for her constantly repeating herself. However, it became Netflix's global hit leading the charts for two consecutive weeks before dropping but still maintaining strong positions for the following weeks. In October 2024, Kidman starred in the second season of the television series ''Lioness (American TV series), Lioness'', on which she earned a nomination for Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and was executive producer. In November 2024, Kidman was voiced Queen Ellsmere in the animated fantasy film ''Spellbound (2024 film), Spellbound''. The film received mixed reviews mainly for its subject matter; however, it managed to place #3 and #2 position in Netflix's top series for the first and second week since its release. In March 2025, Kidman portrayed Nancy, a teacher in Amazon's ''Holland (film), Holland'' directed by Mimi Cave and executive produced ''The Last Anniversary'', adapted from Liane Moriarty's novel. Kidman is also set to star in, and serve as executive producer on, numerous projects, including an Amazon Prime Video ''Scarpetta (TV series), Scarpetta'' series based on Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels and the Apple TV+ series ''Margo's Got Money Troubles''.


Reception and legacy

Kidman is often regarded to be among the finest actresses of her generation. She is also considered one of Hollywood’s bravest performers. She has been noted for seeking eccentric roles in risky projects helmed by auteurs, as well as for her volatile performances and versatile work, having appeared in a variety of eclectic films from several genres throughout her extensive career spanning nearly four decades. ''Vanity Fair (magazine), Vanity Fair'' stated that, despite struggling with her personal life being publicly scrutinised by the media during the early years of her career, "[Kidman] has shown herself to be a major talent, a remarkable actress who can get in there with the best of them, go toe-to-toe, and come out with her credibility intact. What's more, she's proved herself to be a star with a capital S, the one-in-a-generation kind who, like Elizabeth Taylor, is bigger than the Hollywood system, and is also unafraid to be human and real, which only makes her more popular." According to ''The New York Times'', "the plucky, disciplined indomitability she brings to her performances, even more than the artistry she displays within them, may be the secret of her appeal, the source of her bond with the audience." Emily Nussbaum of ''The New Yorker'' commented how "in each role, there is something waxen and watchful and self-possessed about Kidman, so that, even when she's smiling, she never seems liberated. While other actors specialize in transparency, Kidman has a different gift: she can wear a mask and simultaneously let you feel what it's like to hide behind it." Kidman’s most remarkable accomplishment lies in her ability to consistently deliver surprising performances, often standing out as the highlight even in otherwise lackluster projects. She remains a captivating figure, sparking more conversation and strong opinions than nearly anyone else in the industry. Leila Latif of ''The Guardian'' commented that Kidman continuously proved again and again "why she is one of Hollywood’s best and subtly most transgressive stars." In 2004 and 2018, ''
Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' magazine named Kidman one of the 100 most influential people in the world on their annual Time 100, ''Time'' 100 list. In 2020, ''The New York Times'' ranked her fifth on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century, and in a 2022 readers' poll by ''Empire (magazine), Empire'' magazine, she was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time. In 2025, Kidman was named one of the Time Person of the Year, Women of the Year of ''
Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' magazine. Kidman continues to defy age-related stereotypes in Hollywood, thriving in an industry often criticized for its challenges for women over 50. Her ability to secure leading roles and produce compelling work highlights her resilience and determination, proving that age is no barrier to success in her career. Kidman’s journey inspires, challenging the industry’s norms and paving the way for other women in Hollywood. Kidman is known to practice method acting for many of her roles. It has been noted that she oftentimes transforms herself physically, mentally and emotionally to resemble her characters, to the point where it has adversely affected her health. Mark Caro from the ''Los Angeles Times'' stated that "to Nicole Kidman, acting isn't a mere technical feat; it's the art of transformation. To hear her tell it, the change can be as dramatic as a caterpillar-into-butterfly metamorphosis. She'll be working and working to get under the skin of a character." ''W (magazine), W'' described her as a "cipher", and pointed out how "she gets under her character's skin so thoroughly, it's nearly impossible to distinguish the actress from the role. It's why she has become so synonymous with a few key roles ... and why those films are so defined by Kidman's presence in them." Scholars have also commented on her acting style and approach to roles. Sharon Marie Carnicke, a professor of critical studies and acting at the USC School of Dramatic Arts, mentioned that "Kidman's [acting] choices are believable and natural as reactions to the specific circumstances in her world" and described her work as "kinetic". Dennis Bingham, a professor of English and director of film studies at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, stated that "Kidman acts always a step or two outside the character, telegraphing her reactions, elongating the time she takes to articulate her decisions and conclusions. Even her emotional responses are presented as signs." Pam Cook, a professor of film at the University of Southampton, suggests in her biography of Kidman that "her emphasis on artifice and technique points to a conception of screen acting that looks to cinematic expression rather than to the actor's body and intentions for the realisation of character." Mary Luckhurst, a professor and head of the University of Bristol School of Arts with credentials in theatre and performance, stated how "she has strategically pursued a high-risk mutability and versatility, and regularly traverses between naturalist and non-naturalist roles and artforms." She continues saying that "she can continually test her own emotional limits, physical skills, politics, values and frames of reference" and mentions how "her conception of character acting involves metamorphosing gradually into something that she feels is so 'other' that she frequently speaks of losing herself or getting lost in the role, and her preparedness to challenge herself in this respect has continually surprised other actors, directors and producers." After nearly four decades in the industry and over 80 film and TV projects, Kidman emphasizes her acting approach, saying, "I still approach acting like I’ve just come out of drama school." Arte France released a 53-minute documentary in 2023, ''Nicole Kidman – Eyes Wide Open''. Kidman has also been described as a fashion icon. The Chartreuse Dior dress of Nicole Kidman, chartreuse Dior gown she wore to the 69th Academy Awards, 1997 Academy Awards is regarded as one of the greatest dresses in Oscar history and has been credited with changing red carpet fashion forever. ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'' described how "from her embroidered chartreuse John Galliano for Christian Dior (fashion house), Christian Dior gown in 1997, at the side of then-husband Tom Cruise, to that impeccable red Balenciaga moment at the 2007 Academy Awards, 2007 Oscars, to the unforgettable Calvin Klein (fashion house), Calvin Klein ballerina dress she wore to the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, the Australian native has mastered the art of red carpet dressing, always piquing our [interest] and taking risks while never overdoing it." ''Insider Inc., Insider'' stated that "over the years, Kidman has experimented with all sorts of trends, including bold colors, statement jewelry, and everything in between, making herself one of the most iconic celebrities when it comes to her fashion choices." In 2003, she received the Fashion Icon Award, which was awarded to her by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Regarding her bestowal, Peter Arnold, executive director of the CFDA, said, "Nicole Kidman's style, both on and off the screen, has had an undeniable impact on fashion. As an actress, she has developed her many memorable characters with an innate understanding of the artistry of clothes. At the same time, she has elegantly established her personal style and own iconic presence worldwide."


Working with female filmmakers

In 2017, Kidman has pledged to collaborate with a female director every 18 months to address gender disparities in the film industry. This commitment has led to her involvement in numerous projects, including '' The Perfect Couple'' where she portrays Greer Garrison Winbury, a role reminiscent of her previous characters in '' Big Little Lies'' and ''
The Undoing ''The Undoing'' is an American mystery psychological thriller television miniseries based on the 2014 novel ''You Should Have Known'' by Jean Hanff Korelitz. It was written and produced by David E. Kelley and directed by Susanne Bier. The mi ...
''. Some critics argued that such choices resulted in repetitive portrayals, potentially diminishing the impact of her performances. Though Kidman’s recent roles often portray wealthy, sophisticated women, each character reveals unique emotional complexities. From hidden grief and buried secrets to self-sacrifice or the pursuit of personal desires, Kidman adds depth and nuance to these archetypes, demonstrating her range and versatility as an actress. Despite criticisms, Kidman continues to support female filmmakers, contributing to increased representation in the industry and creating more jobs. As of November 2024, Kidman had worked with 15 female directors over the previous seven years. In a February 2025 interview with ''
Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'', she reflected on her career, emphasizing the importance of humility, continuous learning, and taking risks in her craft. Kidman also highlighted her commitment to telling diverse stories and supporting female filmmakers, aiming to create more opportunities for women in the industry. Her efforts have elevated her career and inspired a new generation of talent, solidifying her legacy as both an artist and a trailblazer. Halina Reijn, director of '' Babygirl'', highlighted her experience with Kidman, stating, "She is one of the few people who practices what she preaches when it comes to feminism and empowering women." Mimi Cave, director of ''Holland (film), Holland'', reflected on working with Kidman, saying that she "makes herself completely available to you as a director" and praising her collaborative spirit. She added, "She's really incredible to watch and she's someone I've learned a great deal from. It was a pretty magnificent experience for me," underscoring Kidman's professionalism and the lasting impression she leaves on collaborators. Lulu Wang (filmmaker), Lulu Wang, director of ''
Expats An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
'', praised Kidman, stating, "Nicole, being able to support me, created this entire network and world of filmmakers, women, people of color who’ve never had the opportunity to be in this space." Jamie Lee Curtis, Kidman's co-star in ''Scarpetta (TV series), Scarpetta'', shared that "People work when Nicole works. I’m working because Nicole is working." As of February 2025, Kidman has worked with 19 female directors, either in an acting or producing capacity, over the past eight years to champion gender equality in Hollywood.


Personal life


Relationships and family

Kidman met actor
Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Regarded as a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood icon, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Tom Cruise, various accolades, includ ...
in 1989 while working on the set of ''
Days of Thunder ''Days of Thunder'' is a 1990 American sports action drama film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, a ...
'', a film in which both starred, and they married on Christmas Eve of 1990 in Colorado. While married, the couple adopted a daughter, Isabella (born 1992), and a son, Connor (born 1995). On 5 February 2001, the couple's spokesperson announced their separation. Cruise filed for divorce two days later, and their marriage was dissolved later that year, with Cruise citing irreconcilable differences. In 2013, Kidman said their marriage failed because of her young age when they married. "I was a child, really, when I got married," she said. "And I needed to grow up." In a 2007 interview with ''Marie Claire'', Kidman noted the incorrect reporting of a miscarriage early in her marriage: "It was wrongly reported as miscarriage by everyone who picked up the story. So it's huge news, and it didn't happen. I had a miscarriage at the end of my marriage, but I had an ectopic pregnancy at the beginning of my marriage." In the June 2006 issue of ''Ladies' Home Journal'', Kidman said of Cruise: "He was huge; still is. To me, he was just Tom, but to everybody else, he is huge. But he was lovely to me and I loved him. I still love him". She expressed shock about the divorce. In 2015, former Church of Scientology executive Mark Rathbun said Going Clear (film), in a documentary film that he was instructed to "facilitate [Cruise's] break-up with Nicole Kidman". Cruise's Scientology "Auditing (Scientology), auditor" said Kidman had been wiretapped on Cruise's suggestion. In 2015, Kidman said her divorce from Cruise heightened public attention on her career. "Out of my divorce came work that was applauded, so that was an interesting thing for me." She received an Academy Award in 2003, shortly after her divorce. Before marrying Cruise, Kidman had been in relationships with Australian actor Marcus Graham and ''Windrider'' co-star Tom Burlinson. The film ''Cold Mountain'' brought rumours that an affair between Kidman and co-star
Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre before landing small roles in various British television productions and feature films. Law gained international recognition for his role in An ...
was responsible for the break-up of his marriage. Both denied the allegations, and Kidman won an undisclosed sum from the British tabloids that published the story. She began dating musician Lenny Kravitz in 2003. According to Kidman, they were engaged before deciding to end their relationship. However, they remain on good terms. Kravitz's daughter, Zoë Kravitz, later said that Kidman was a loving potential stepmother to her. In 2003, she briefly dated A Tribe Called Quest rapper Q-Tip (musician), Q-Tip. In January 2005, Kidman met Australian-American country singer
Keith Urban Keith Lionel Urban ( né Urbahn; 26 October 1967) is an Australian and American country singer, songwriter and guitarist. Recognised with four Grammy Awards, he has also received 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Jim Reeves Int ...
at Australia Week, G'Day LA, an event honouring Australians. In May 2006, she revealed they were engaged. Kidman married Urban on 25 June 2006 at Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel on the grounds of St Patrick's Seminary, St Patrick's Estate, Manly, New South Wales, Manly, in Sydney. For their honeymoon, they went to French Polynesia. In a 2015 interview, regarding her relationship with Urban, Kidman said, "We didn't really know each other – we got to know each other during our marriage." Urban has credited Kidman for helping him overcome his struggles with Alcoholism, alcohol addiction. They maintain homes in Nashville (Tennessee, US), Beverly Hills (California, US), two apartments in Sydney (New South Wales, Australia), a farmhouse in Sutton Forest (New South Wales, Australia), and an apartment in Manhattan (New York, US). The couple's first daughter (Sunday Rose) was born in 2008, in Nashville. In 2010, Kidman and Urban welcomed their second daughter (Faith Margaret) via gestational surrogacy at Nashville's Centennial Women's Hospital.


Religious beliefs and political views

Kidman was brought up in a Catholic Christian, Catholic family and remains practising. She attended Mary Mackillop Memorial Chapel and Museum in North Sydney, New South Wales, North Sydney. Following criticism by Catholic leaders regarding her role in ''The Golden Compass'' as anti-Catholicism, anti-Catholic, Kidman told ''Entertainment Weekly'' that the source material had been "watered down a little" and that her religious beliefs would prevent her from taking a role in a film she perceived as anti-Catholic. Since her divorce from Tom Cruise, she has been reluctant to discuss Scientology. A supporter of women's rights, Kidman testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs to support the International Violence Against Women Act in 2009. In January 2017, she stated her support for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia. Kidman has also donated to Democratic Party (United States), US Democratic party candidates.


Net worth

Kidman has featured in annual rankings of the world's highest-paid actors multiple times, including the leading place for a female actor in 2006. In 2002, she first appeared on the ''Australian Financial Review'' Financial Review Rich List, Rich List, following her divorce from Tom Cruise, with an estimated net worth of A$122 million. , Kidman's net worth, listed jointly with Urban's, was assessed at 596 million by the ''Financial Review'', after several years of not meeting the threshold for inclusion on the Rich List. In 2021 it was reported that ''CelebrityNetWorth, Celebrity Net Worth'' had assessed Kidman's net worth, not including that of Urban's, at 250 million.


Philanthropy

Kidman has raised money for, and drawn attention to, disadvantaged children around the world. In 1994, she was appointed a Goodwill ambassador for
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
. She also joined the Little Tee Campaign for breast cancer care to design T-shirts or vests to raise money to fight the disease; motivated by her mother's battle with breast cancer in 1984. Kidman was also appointed Goodwill ambassador of the UNIFEM, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in 2006. She visited Kosovo in 2006 to learn about women's experiences of conflict and UNIFEM's support efforts. She is also the international spokesperson for UNIFEM's Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative. Kidman and the UNIFEM executive director presented over five million signatures collected during the first phase of this to the UN Secretary-General on 25 November 2008. On 8 January 2010, alongside Nancy Pelosi, Joan Chen and Joe Torre, Kidman attended the ceremony to help the Family Violence Prevention Fund break ground on a new international centre located in the Presidio of San Francisco. In 2014, Kidman designed a gold coloured Paddington Bear statue, one of fifty located around London prior to the release of the film ''
Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...
'', which was auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). In 2016, she donated $50,000 to UN Women.


Endorsement deals and ventures

Kidman has taken part in several endorsement deals representing various companies. In 2003, she served as the face of the Chanel No. 5 perfume. She has also served as an ambassador for Omega SA, Omega watches since 2005. In 2007, Nintendo announced that she would be the new face of Nintendo's advertising campaign for the Nintendo DS game ''More Brain Training'' in its European market. In 2010, Kidman starred in the inauguration campaign of the Brazilian mall VillageMall, owned by the company Multiplan, located in Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro. In 2013, she served as the face of Jimmy Choo (fashion house), Jimmy Choo shoes. In 2015, she became the brand ambassador for Etihad Airways. In 2017, she was announced as the new face of Neutrogena. In 2020, she joined SeraLabs as their global brand ambassador. In December 2023, she joined Balenciaga as their brand ambassador. Kidman supports the Nashville Predators, being seen and photographed almost nightly throughout the season. Additionally, she supports the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League and once served as a club ambassador.


Acting credits and accolades

According to the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, which assigns film scores based on critic reviews and audience reception, some of Kidman's highest-scoring films include ''
Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...
'' (2014), ''
Flirting Flirting or coquetry is a social and sexual behavior involving body language, or spoken or written communication between humans. It is used to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with another person and for amusement. Flirting can chang ...
'' (1990), ''To Die For (film), To Die For'' (1995), '' Rabbit Hole'' (2010), ''
Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
'' (2016), '' The Others'' (2001), ''The Family Fang (film), The Family Fang'' (2015), '' Dead Calm'' (1989), ''Boy Erased'' (2018), ''
The Killing of a Sacred Deer ''The Killing of a Sacred Deer'' is a 2017 Absurdist fiction, absurdist psychological horror Thriller film, thriller film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Efthimis Filippou. It stars Colin Farr ...
'' (2017) and ''
The Northman ''The Northman'' is a 2022 American epic action drama film directed by Robert Eggers, who the screenplay with Sjón. Based on the legend of Amleth from ''Gesta Danorum'' by Saxo Grammaticus, the film follows Amleth, an exiled Viking prince wh ...
'' (2022). Her most financially successful films include ''Aquaman (film), Aquaman'' (2018) and its sequel ''Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom'' (2023), ''Happy Feet'' (2006), '' The Golden Compass'' (2008), ''
Batman Forever ''Batman Forever'' is a 1995 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. It is the third installment of the ''Batman'' film series, acting as a standalone sequel to ''Batman Returns''. Directe ...
'' (1995) and ''
Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...
'' (2014), as listed by the box office tracking website ''The Numbers (website), The Numbers'' as her highest-grossing films. Her other screen credits include: Kidman has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the following: * 74th Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Actress, Best Actress, nomination, for ''
Moulin Rouge! ''Moulin Rouge!'' (, ) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows an English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan ...
'' (2001) * 75th Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Actress, Best Actress, win, for '' The Hours'' (2002) * 83rd Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Actress, Best Actress, nomination, for '' Rabbit Hole'' (2010) * 89th Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actress, nomination, for ''
Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
'' (2016) * 94th Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Actress, Best Actress, nomination, for ''
Being the Ricardos ''Being the Ricardos'' is a 2021 American biographical drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, about the relationship between ''I Love Lucy'' stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Ball and Arnaz, w ...
'' (2021) In 2003, Kidman received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...
for her achievements in the motion picture industry. In addition to her Academy Award for Best Actress win, she has received many other awards and nominations for her performances on the screen and stage, including four additional Academy Award nominations, one BAFTA Award from five nominations, two Laurence Olivier Award nominations, two Primetime Emmy Awards from three nominations, a Screen Actors Guild Award from fifteen nominations, three Critics' Choice Awards from fifteen nominations and six Golden Globe Awards from seventeen nominations, among various others. Nicole Kidman was selected for the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award, originally scheduled to be received at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on 10 June 2023, but was postponed to 27 April 2024 due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, WGA strike. In 2004, Kidman was honoured as a "Citizen of the World" by the United Nations. During the 2006 Australia Day Honours, she was appointed Companion of the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
(AC) for "service to the performing arts as an acclaimed motion picture performer, to health care through contributions to improve medical treatment for women and children and advocacy for cancer research, to youth as a principal supporter of young performing artists, and to humanitarian causes in Australia and internationally". However, due to film commitments and her wedding to Urban, it was not until 13 April 2007 that she was presented with the honour. It was presented by the Governor-General of Australia, Major General Michael Jeffery (Australian Army officer), Michael Jeffery, in a ceremony at Government House, Canberra. At the beginning of 2009, Kidman appeared in a series of postage stamps featuring Australian actors. She, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, and Cate Blanchett each appear twice in the series: once as themselves and once as their Academy Award-nominated characters, with Kidman appearing as Satine from ''Moulin Rouge!''.


Discography

Kidman's discography consists of several audio recordings, including one spoken word album, one extended play and three single (music), singles. Kidman, primarily known for her acting career, entered the music industry during the early 2000s after recording a number of tracks for the original motion picture soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's 2001 musical film ''Moulin Rouge!'', which she starred in. Her duet with Ewan McGregor entitled "Come What May (2001 song), Come What May" was released as her debut single and the second single from the film's original soundtrack album through Interscope Records on 24 September 2001. The composition became the eighth-highest selling single by an Australian artist that year, being certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, while peaking at number twenty-seven on the UK singles chart. In addition, the song received a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, Best Original Song nomination at the 59th Golden Globe Awards and was listed at eighty-fifth within AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs by the American Film Institute. "Somethin' Stupid#Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman version, Somethin' Stupid", a cover version of Frank Sinatra, Frank and Nancy Sinatra's version, followed soon after. The track, recorded as a duet with English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, was issued on 14 December 2001 by Chrysalis Records as the lead single off his fourth studio album, ''Swing When You're Winning''. Kidman's second single topped the official music charts in New Zealand,For peak positions of Kidman's singles in New Zealand, use the austriancharts.at links depending on a release. * Portugal, and the UK, in addition to reaching top ten placings all over Europe, including Austria,For peak positions of Kidman's singles in Austria, use the austriancharts.at links depending on the release. * Belgium, Denmark, Germany,For peak positions of Kidman's singles in Germany, use the officialcharts.de links depending on a release. * * the Netherlands,For peak positions of Kidman's singles in Netherlands, use the dutchcharts.nl links depending on a release. * * Norway and Switzerland,For peak positions of Kidman's singles in Switzerland, use the hitparade.ch links depending on a release. * * as well as Australia. Apart from being certified either Gold in a number of countries, it was ranked as the thirteenth best-selling single of 2002 in the UK, the fifty-ninth in Australia and the ninety-third in France, respectively. The song peaked at No. 8 on the Australian ARIAnet Singles Chart and at No. 1, for three weeks, in the UK. On 5 April 2002, Kidman released through Interscope Records her third single, a cover of Randy Crawford's "One Day I'll Fly Away#Nicole Kidman, One Day I'll Fly Away". The song, a Tony Philips remix, was promoted as the pilot single for the follow-up to the ''Moulin Rouge!'' original soundtrack, titled ''Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film, Vol. 2, Moulin Rouge! Vol. 2''. In 2006, she contributed to the original motion picture soundtrack of ''Happy Feet (soundtrack), Happy Feet'', recording a rendition of the Prince (musician), Prince song "Kiss (Prince song)#Other cover versions/appearances in media, Kiss" for the film. In 2009, she was featured on the Nine (soundtrack), original soundtrack of Rob Marshall's 2009 musical film ''Nine'', recording the song "Unusual Way". In 2012, she narrated an audiobook and in 2017, she contributed with background vocals to her husband's, country music singer Keith Urban, song titled "Female (song), Female". In 2022, Kidman joined Luke Evans to release a cover of "Say Something (A Great Big World song), Say Something", originally performed by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera.


See also

* List of Australian Academy Award winners and nominees * List of actors with Academy Award nominations * List of actors with three or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories


References


Further reading

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External links

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kidman, Nicole Nicole Kidman, 1967 births Living people 20th-century American actresses 20th-century Australian actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American singers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century Australian actresses 21st-century Australian singers 21st-century Australian women singers Actresses from Honolulu Actresses from Sydney American chief executives in the mass media industry American film actresses American Roman Catholics American film production company founders American people of Australian descent American people of English descent American people of Irish descent American people of Scottish descent American television actresses American television producers American women ambassadors American women chief executives American women company founders American women film producers American women television producers Audiobook narrators Australian company founders Australian child actresses Australian film actresses Australian film producers Australian people of English descent Australian people of Irish descent Australian people of Scottish descent Australian Roman Catholics Australian television actresses Australian television producers Australian women ambassadors Australian women chief executives Australian women company founders Australian women film producers Australian women television producers Best Actress Academy Award winners Best Actress BAFTA Award winners Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Miniseries or Television Movie Actress Golden Globe winners Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actress AACTA Award winners Best Supporting Actress AACTA International Award winners Catholics from Hawaii Companions of the Order of Australia Film producers from Hawaii Kidman family, Nicole Kidman Logie Award winners Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Screen Actors Guild Award winners Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners People educated at North Sydney Girls High School Silver Bear for Best Actress winners Theatre World Award winners UN Women goodwill ambassadors UNICEF goodwill ambassadors Volpi Cup for Best Actress winners Best Actress AACTA International Award winners