Nicole Mary Kidman (born 20 June 1967) is an Australian and American actress and producer. Known forher 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 anAcademy Award, aBritish Academy Film Award, and sixGolden Globe Awards.
Nicole Mary Kidman was born on 20 June 1967 inHonolulu, Hawaii,[5][6] while her Australian parents were temporarily in the United States on student visas.[7] Her mother, Janelle Ann (née Glenny),[8][9] anursing instructor and member of theWomen's Electoral Lobby, edited her husband's books; her father,Antony Kidman, was abiochemist,clinical psychologist, and author.[10] She has a younger sister,Antonia, who is a journalist and television presenter.[11] Having been born in the US to Australian parents, Kidman holdsdual Australian and US citizenship.[12][13] She has English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.[14][15] Being born in Hawaii, she was given the Hawaiian name "Hōkūlani" ([hoːkuːˈlɐni]), meaning "heavenly star". The inspiration came from a baby elephant born around the same time at theHonolulu Zoo.[16]
Kidman has said she first aspired to become an actress upon watchingMargaret Hamilton's performance as theWicked Witch of the West inThe Wizard of Oz.[20] 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."[21] During her teenage years, she attended thePhillip Street Theatre, alongside fellow actressNaomi Watts, and theAustralian Theatre for Young People, 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.[19] A regular at the Phillip Street Theatre, she was encouraged to pursue acting full-time, which she did by dropping out of high school.[14][18]
In 1983, 16-year-old Kidman made her film debut in a remake of the Australian holiday classicBush Christmas.[14] By the end of that year, she had a supporting role in the television seriesFive Mile Creek. In 1984, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which caused Kidman to halt her acting work temporarily while she studiedmassage therapy to help her mother with physical therapy.[22] She began gaining recognition during this decade after appearing in several Australian films, such as the action comedyBMX Bandits (1983) and the romantic comedyWindrider (1986).[23] Throughout the rest of the 1980s, she appeared in various Australian television programs, including the 1987 miniseriesVietnam, for which she won her firstAustralian Film Institute Award.[24]
Kidman next appeared in the Australian filmEmerald City (1988), based on theplay of the same name, which earned her a second Australian Film Institute Award. She then starred alongsideSam Neill in the 1989 thrillerDead Calm as Rae Ingram, the wife of a naval officer who is menaced by a castaway at sea, played byBilly Zane. The film proved to be herbreakthrough role, one of the first films for which she gained international recognition.[25] Regarding her performance,Variety commented how "throughout the film, Kidman is excellent. She gives the character of Rae real tenacity and energy."[26] Meanwhile, criticRoger Ebert noted the excellent chemistry between the leads, stating, "Kidman and Zane do generate real, palpable hatred in their scenes together."[27] She followed that up with the Australian miniseriesBangkok Hilton before moving on to star alongside her then-boyfriend and future husband,Tom Cruise, in the 1990 sports action filmDays of Thunder, as a young doctor who falls in love with aNASCAR driver. It was considered her international breakout film and was among the year's highest-grossing films.[28]
In 1999, Kidman reunited with then-husband Tom Cruise to portray a couple on a sexual odyssey inEyes Wide Shut, their third film together and the final film of directorStanley Kubrick. It was subject to censorship controversies due to the explicit nature of its sex scenes.[44] After a brief hiatus and a highly publicised divorce from Cruise,[45] Kidman returned to the screen to play amail-order bride in the British-American dramaBirthday Girl.[46] In 2001, she took on the role ofcabaret actress andcourtesan Satine inBaz Luhrmann's musicalMoulin Rouge!, oppositeEwan McGregor. Her performance and her singing received positive reviews; Paul Clinton ofCNN called it her best work sinceTo Die For, and wrote "[she] is 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."[47] She subsequently received her second Golden Globe Award forBest Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, among several other awards and nominations, including her first nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Actress.[48][49]
Also in 2001, Kidman starred inAlejandro Amenábar's psychological horror filmThe 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 aGoya Award nomination forBest Actress, in addition to receiving her secondBAFTA Award and fifth Golden Globe Award nominations.[50][51]Roger Ebert 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."[52]A. O. Scott ofThe New York Times 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."[53]
The following year, Kidman garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal ofVirginia Woolf inStephen Daldry'sThe Hours, co-starring alongsideMeryl Streep andJulianne Moore. 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 theAcademy Award for Best Picture.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."[54] She won numerous critic and industry awards for her performance, including her first BAFTA Award, thirdGolden Globe Award, and the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first Australian to win the award.[18] During her Oscar's acceptance speech, she referenced theIraq War 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."[55] That same year, she was named the World's Most Beautiful Person byPeople magazine.[56]
Following her Oscar win, Kidman appeared in three distinctly different films in 2003. The first of those, a leading role in directorLars von Trier'sDogville, was anexperimental film set on a baresoundstage. Though the film divided critics in the United States, Kidman earned praise for her performance. Peter Travers ofRolling Stone stated, "Kidman gives the most emotionally bruising performance of her career inDogville, a movie that never met a cliche it didn't stomp on."[57] The second film was an adaptation ofPhilip Roth's novelThe Human Stain, oppositeAnthony Hopkins. Her third film that year wasAnthony Minghella's war dramaCold Mountain, where she starred oppositeJude Law andRenée Zellweger, playingsoutherner Ada Monroe, a woman who falls in love with Law's character. They became separated by theAmerican 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."[58] 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.[59]
In conjunction with her success within the film industry, Kidman became the face of theChanel No. 5 perfume brand. She starred in a television and print ads campaign withRodrigo Santoro, directed byMoulin 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.[64] During this time, she was also featured as the 45th Most Powerful Celebrity onForbes' 2005 Celebrity 100 List. She reportedly earned US$14.5 million between 2004 and 2005. OnPeople magazine's list of 2005's highest-paid actresses, Kidman came in second behindJulia Roberts, with a US$16–17 million per-film price tag.[65]
In 2014, Kidman starred as thetitular character in the biographical filmGrace of Monaco, which chronicles the 1962 crisis in whichCharles 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 inAlfred Hitchcock'sMarnie. Opening out of competition at the2014 Cannes Film Festival, the film received largely negative reviews.[84] She also starred in two films withColin Firth that year, the first being the British-Australian historical dramaThe Railway Man, in which she played an officer's wife.[85] Katherine Monk of theMontreal 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".[86] Her second film with Firth was the British thriller filmBefore I Go to Sleep, portraying a car crash survivor with brain damage.[87] Also in 2014, she appeared in the live-action animated comedy filmPaddington as the film's main antagonist.[88]
In 2016'sLion, Kidman portrayed Sue, the adoptive mother ofSaroo 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.[94] She received positive reviews for her performance, in addition to her first nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress, her fourth nomination overall, and her eleventh Golden Globe Award nomination, among several others.Richard Roeper of theChicago 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."[95] Budgeted at US$12 million,Lion earned over US$140 million globally.[96] She also gave a voice-over performance for the English version of the animated filmThe Guardian Brothers.[97]
Television expansion and continued acclaim (2017–2020)
In 2018, Kidman starred in two dramas,Destroyer andBoy Erased. In the former, she played a detective troubled by a case for two decades. Peter Debruge ofVariety and Brooke Marine ofW 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",[107] whereas Marine highlighted Kidman's method acting.[108] The latter film is based on Garrard Conley'sBoy Erased: A Memoir, and featuresRussell Crowe and Kidman as socially conservative parents who send their son (played byLucas Hedges) to agay conversion program. Richard Lawson ofVanity Fair credited all three performers for "elevating the fairly standard-issue material to poignant highs".[109] That same year, Kidman took on the role ofQueen Atlanna, the mother of thetitle character, in theDC Extended Universe superhero filmAquaman, which grossed over US$1.1 billion worldwide, becoming her highest-grossing film to date.[110][111] Also in 2018, she was interviewed for aBAFTA eventA Life in Pictures, where she reflected on her extensive film career.[112]
Forbes ranked her as the fourth highest-paid actress in the world in 2019, with an annual income of $34 million.[113] Kidman kicked off 2019 by reprising her role in the second season of the hit seriesBig Little Lies, which premiered in June.[114] 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.[115] In September 2019, she took on the supporting part of a rich socialite inJohn Crowley's dramaThe Goldfinch, an adaptation of thenovel of the same name byDonna Tartt, starringAnsel Elgort.[116] Although it was poorly received,Owen Gleiberman commended Kidman for playing her part with "elegant affection".[117][118] She next co-starred alongsideCharlize Theron andMargot Robbie in the dramaBombshell, a film depicting the scandal concerning the sexual harassment accusations against formerFox News CEORoger Ailes, in which she portrayed journalistGretchen Carlson.[119]Manohla Dargis ofThe 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".[120] For her performance, she received an additional Screen Actors Guild Award nomination forOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.[121]
Kidman started off the 2020s with her role of Grace Fraser, a successful New York therapist, in the HBO psychological thriller miniseriesThe Undoing, based on the novelYou Should Have Known byJean Hanff Korelitz.[122][123] She served as executive producer alongside the show's director,Susanne Bier, andDavid E. Kelley, who previously adapted and producedBig 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 ofBig Little Lies.[124] Furthermore, the series surpassedBig Little Lies to become HBO's most-watched show of 2020 based on audience numbers.[125] For her performance, she received additional Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.[126][127] Her only film release of 2020 was the musical comedyThe Prom, based on theBroadway musical of the same name, starring alongside Meryl Streep,James Corden andKeegan-Michael Key.[128]
In September 2021, Kidman starred in a commercial forAMC 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.[142][143] 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic.[144] AMC's CEOAdam Aron describedKidman's viral ad as "iconic and revered" during a 2022 earnings call andCNN reported that the ad "has inspired memes, homages and debate" and became a "cultural thing".[145][146]
In April 2022, Kidman appeared in an episode of the anthology seriesRoar, based onCecelia Ahern's2018 short story collection, in addition to serving as executive producer.[147] The miniseries attracted mixed attention due to its unconventional and controversial feminist themes.[148][149] That same month, she starred alongside herBig Little Lies co-star Alexander Skarsgård,Anya Taylor-Joy,Ethan Hawke andWillem Dafoe in the historical dramaThe Northman, directed byRobert Eggers.[150] The film was received with widespread acclaim upon its release.[151][152]
In 2023, Kidman began starring in theParamount+ television seriesSpecial Ops: Lioness, on which she also serves as an executive producer.[153] The miniseries received mixed attention upon release and reviewer Anita Singh ofThe 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".[154][155] Initially, reviewer Mike Hale, writing forThe New York Times, 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.[156][157] In December 2023, Kidman reprised the role of Queen Atlanna in the sequel to the 2018 superhero filmAquaman, titledAquaman and the Lost Kingdom.[158][159]
Forbes ranked her as thehighest-paid actress in the world in 2024, with an annual income of $31 million.[160] In January 2024, Kidman starred in and served as executive producer of the drama television seriesExpats.[161] Her performance garnered mixed reviews from critics.[162][163] In June 2024, she reunited with herThe Paperboy co-starZac Efron in Netflix'sA Family Affair.[164][165] Although it received mixed reviews from critics, the film was well received by audiences.[166][167] 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.[168][169] Kidman portrayed a high-ranking CEO in theA24erotic thrillerBabygirl written and directed byHalina Reijn.[170]Robbie Collin ofThe 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."[171] For her performance, she received theVolpi Cup for Best Actress at the81st Venice International Film Festival. Kidman was absent from the ceremony due to the death of her mother.[172] She was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama[173] and subsequently earned her firstBest Actress win atNational Board of Review Awards for her performance.[174]
In September 2024, Kidman starred in, and served as executive producer on theNetflix seriesThe Perfect Couple, based onElin Hilderbrand's novel.[175] The series received mixed reviews from critics with many reviews criticizing Kidman for her constantly repeating herself.[176][177] However, it became Netflix's global hit leading the charts for two consecutive weeks[178][179] before dropping but still maintaining strong positions for the following weeks.[180] In October 2024, Kidman starred in the second season of the television seriesLioness, on which she earned a nomination forCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and was executive producer.[181][182] In November 2024, Kidman was voiced Queen Ellsmere in the animated fantasy filmSpellbound.[183] 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.[184]
Kidman is often regarded to be among the finest actresses of her generation.[189][99] She is also considered one of Hollywood’s bravest performers.[190] 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.[191][152][192]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, likeElizabeth Taylor, is bigger than the Hollywood system, and is also unafraid to be human and real, which only makes her more popular."[193] According toThe 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."[194]Emily Nussbaum ofThe 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."[195] 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.[196][197] Leila Latif ofThe Guardian commented that Kidman continuously proved again and again "why she is one of Hollywood’s best and subtly most transgressive stars."[198] In 2004 and 2018,Time magazine named Kidman one of the 100 most influential people in the world on their annualTime 100 list.[199][200] In 2020,The New York Times ranked her fifth on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century,[201] and in a 2022 readers' poll byEmpire magazine, she was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time.[202] In 2025, Kidman was named one of theWomen of the Year ofTime magazine.[203]
"I'm a character [actor]. I was trained as a character actor. That's what I want to do. I believe in changing the way you look, the way you move, the way you speak. I'm not great at playing myself, so what really gives me the greatest satisfaction is changing into something else."
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.[205][206]
Kidman is known to practicemethod acting for many of her roles.[207] It has been noted that she oftentimes transforms herself physically, mentally and emotionally to resemble her characters,[208][209] to the point where it has adversely affected her health.[210] Mark Caro from theLos 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."[211]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."[212]
Scholars have also commented on her acting style and approach to roles. Sharon Marie Carnicke, a professor of critical studies and acting at theUSC 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".[213] Dennis Bingham, a professor of English and director of film studies atIndiana 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."[214]Pam Cook, a professor of film at theUniversity 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."[215]Mary Luckhurst, a professor and head of theUniversity 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."[216]
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."[217]
Arte France released a 53-minute documentary in 2023,Nicole Kidman – Eyes Wide Open.[218]
Kidman has also been described as a fashion icon.[219] Thechartreuse Dior gown she wore to the1997 Academy Awards is regarded as one of the greatest dresses in Oscar history and has been credited with changing red carpet fashion forever.[220]Vogue described how "from her embroidered chartreuseJohn Galliano forChristian Dior gown in 1997, at the side of then-husband Tom Cruise, to that impeccable redBalenciaga moment at the2007 Oscars, to the unforgettableCalvin Klein ballerina dress she wore to the2017 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."[221]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."[222] In 2003, she received the Fashion Icon Award, which was awarded to her by theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America.[219] 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."[223]
In 2017, Kidman has pledged to collaborate with a female director every 18 months to address gender disparities in the film industry.[224][225][226][227] This commitment has led to her involvement in numerous projects, includingThe Perfect Couple where she portrays Greer Garrison Winbury, a role reminiscent of her previous characters inBig Little Lies andThe Undoing.[228] Some critics argued that such choices resulted in repetitive portrayals, potentially diminishing the impact of her performances.[229][230][231] Despite criticisms, Kidman continues to support female filmmakers, contributing to increased representation in the industry and creating more jobs.[232][233][234][235]
In a February 2025 interview withTime, 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.[236][237][238][239]
Halina Reijn, director ofBabygirl, 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."[240] Mimi Cave, director ofHolland, 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.[241]Lulu Wang, director ofExpats, 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."[242]Jamie Lee Curtis, Kidman's co-star inScarpetta, shared that "People work when Nicole works. I’m working because Nicole is working."[236][243]
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.[244][245]
Kidman met US actorTom Cruise in 1989 while working on the set ofDays of Thunder, a film in which both starred, and they married on Christmas Eve of 1990 in Colorado.[246][247] While married, the couple adopted a daughter and a son.[248] On 5 February 2001, the couple's spokesperson announced their separation.[249] Cruise filed for divorce two days later, and their marriage was dissolved later that year, with Cruise citing irreconcilable differences.[250] 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."[251] In a 2007 interview withMarie Claire, Kidman noted the incorrect reporting of amiscarriage 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 anectopic pregnancy at the beginning of my marriage."[252]
Kidman described the divorce as a "major shock" and 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."[250] In 2015, formerChurch of Scientology executiveMark Rathbun saidin a documentary film that he was instructed to "facilitate [Cruise's] break-up with Nicole Kidman".[253] Cruise's Scientologyauditor said Kidman had been wiretapped on Cruise's suggestion.[254] In 2015, Kidman said her divorce from Cruise led her to focus her attention on her career. She stated, "Out of my divorce came work that was applauded, so that was an interesting thing for me."[255]
Before marrying Cruise, Kidman had been in relationships with Australian actorMarcus Graham andWindrider co-starTom Burlinson.[256][257] The filmCold Mountain brought rumours that an affair between Kidman and co-starJude Law 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.[258] She began dating musicianLenny Kravitz in 2003. According to Kidman, they were engaged before deciding to end their relationship.[259][260][261] However, they remain on good terms. Kravitz's daughter,Zoë Kravitz, later said that Kidman was a loving potential stepmother to her.[260] In 2003, she briefly datedA Tribe Called Quest rapperQ-Tip.[262][263]
Kidman and her husbandKeith Urban in 2011; the couple married in 2006 and separated in 2025.
In January 2005, Kidman met Australian-American country singerKeith Urban atG'Day LA, an event honouring Australians.[264][265] In May 2006, she revealed they were engaged. Kidman married Urban on 25 June 2006 at Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel on the grounds ofSt Patrick's Estate,Manly, in Sydney.[266][267] For their honeymoon, they went toFrench Polynesia.[265] 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."[255] Urban has credited Kidman for helping him overcome his struggles withalcohol addiction.[265] They maintain homes in Nashville (Tennessee, US),[268] Beverly Hills (California, US),[269] two apartments in Sydney (New South Wales, Australia),[270] a farmhouse inSutton Forest (New South Wales, Australia), and an apartment in Manhattan (New York, US).[270] The couple's first daughter was born in 2008, in Nashville.[271][272] In 2010, their second daughter was born viagestational surrogacy[273] at Nashville's Centennial Women's Hospital.[274][275] In September 2025, it was revealed that they had separated and that Kidman had filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.[276][277]
Kidman was brought up in aCatholic family.[278][279] She attendedMary Mackillop Memorial Chapel and Museum inNorth Sydney. Following criticism by Catholic leaders regarding her role inThe Golden Compass asanti-Catholic,[280][281] Kidman toldEntertainment 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.[282] Since her divorce from Tom Cruise, she has been reluctant to discuss Scientology.[283][284]
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.[289] In 2002, she first appeared on theAustralian Financial ReviewRich List, following her divorce from Tom Cruise, with an estimatednet worth of A$122 million.[290] As of May 2023[update], Kidman's net worth, listed jointly with Urban's, was assessed atA$596 million by theFinancial Review, after several years of not meeting the threshold for inclusion on the Rich List.[291] In 2021 it was reported thatCelebrity Net Worth had assessed Kidman's net worth, not including that of Urban's, atUS$250 million.[292]
Nicole Kidman applied for Portuguese residency in July 2025 in order to buy a house in the luxury resort Costa Terra Golf & Ocean Club in Melides.[293] She had previously already purchased an apartment in Lisbon.[293]
Kidman (right) attending the 'International Center to End Violence' withNancy Pelosi (left) andEsta Soler (center) in 2010
Kidman has raised money for, and drawn attention to, disadvantaged children around the world. In 1994, she was appointed aGoodwill ambassador forUNICEF.[294] She also joined the Little Tee Campaign for breast cancer care to design T-shirts or vests to raise money to fight the disease;[295] motivated by her mother's battle with breast cancer in 1984.[296] Kidman was also appointed Goodwill ambassador of theUnited Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in 2006.[297][294]
She visited Kosovo in 2006 to learn about women's experiences of conflict and UNIFEM's support efforts.[298] She is also the international spokesperson for UNIFEM's Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative.[299] 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.[300] On 8 January 2010, alongsideNancy Pelosi,Joan Chen andJoe Torre, Kidman attended the ceremony to help theFamily Violence Prevention Fund break ground on a new international centre located in thePresidio of San Francisco.[301][302]
Kidman has taken part in several endorsement deals representing various companies.[305] In 2003, she served as the face of theChanel No. 5 perfume.[306] She has also served as an ambassador forOmega watches since 2005.[307] In 2007,Nintendo announced that she would be the new face of Nintendo's advertising campaign for theNintendo DS gameMore Brain Training in its European market.[308] 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.[309] In 2013, she served as the face ofJimmy Choo shoes.[310] In 2015, she became the brand ambassador forEtihad Airways.[311] In 2017, she was announced as the new face ofNeutrogena.[312] In 2020, she joined SeraLabs as their global brand ambassador.[313] In December 2023, she joined Balenciaga as their brand ambassador.[314][315]
In 2003, Kidman received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame for her achievements in the motion picture industry.[320][321] 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.[322][43][93] 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 theWGA strike.[323][324][4]
In 2004, Kidman was honoured as a "Citizen of the World" by the United Nations.[325] During the 2006Australia Day Honours, she was appointed Companion of theOrder of Australia (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".[326][327] However, due to film commitments and her wedding to Urban, it was not until 13 April 2007 that she was presented with the honour.[328] It was presented by theGovernor-General of Australia, Major GeneralMichael Jeffery, in a ceremony at Government House, Canberra.[329] At the beginning of 2009, Kidman appeared in a series of postage stamps featuring Australian actors. She,Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, andCate Blanchett each appear twice in the series: once as themselves and once as their Academy Award-nominated characters, with Kidman appearing as Satine fromMoulin Rouge!.[330]
Kidman'sdiscography consists of several audio recordings, including onespoken word album, oneextended play and threesingles.[331] Kidman, primarily known for her acting career, entered themusic industry during the early 2000s after recording a number of tracks for the original motion picture soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's 2001 musical filmMoulin Rouge!, which she starred in.[332] Her duet with Ewan McGregor entitled "Come What May" was released as her debut single and the second single from the film's original soundtrack album throughInterscope Records on 24 September 2001. The composition became the eighth-highest selling single by an Australian artist that year,[333] being certified Gold by theAustralian Recording Industry Association,[334] while peaking at number twenty-seven on theUK singles chart.[335] In addition, the song received aBest Original Song nomination at the 59th Golden Globe Awards[336] and was listed at eighty-fifth withinAFI's 100 Years...100 Songs by theAmerican Film Institute.[337]
"Somethin' Stupid", acover version ofFrank andNancy Sinatra's version, followed soon after. The track, recorded as a duet with English singer-songwriterRobbie Williams, was issued on 14 December 2001 byChrysalis Records as thelead single off his fourth studio album,Swing When You're Winning.[338] Kidman's second single topped the official music charts in New Zealand,[339] Portugal,[340] and the UK, in addition to reaching top ten placings all over Europe, including Austria,[341] Belgium,[342] Denmark,[343] Germany,[344] the Netherlands,[345] Norway[346] and Switzerland,[347] as well as Australia. Apart from being certified either Gold[348] in a number of countries, it was ranked as the thirteenth best-selling single of 2002 in the UK, the fifty-ninth in Australia[349] and the ninety-third in France,[350] respectively. The song peaked at No. 8 on the Australian ARIAnet Singles Chart and at No. 1, for three weeks, in the UK.[351]
On 5 April 2002, Kidman released through Interscope Records her third single, a cover ofRandy Crawford's "One Day I'll Fly Away".[352] The song, a Tony Philips remix, was promoted as the pilot single for the follow-up to theMoulin Rouge! original soundtrack, titledMoulin Rouge! Vol. 2. In 2006, she contributed to the original motion picture soundtrack ofHappy Feet, recording a rendition of thePrince song "Kiss" for the film.[353] In 2009, she was featured on theoriginal soundtrack of Rob Marshall's 2009 musical filmNine, recording the song "Unusual Way".[354] In 2012, she narrated anaudiobook and in 2017, she contributed with background vocals to her husband's,country music singer Keith Urban, song titled "Female".[355][356] In 2022, Kidman joinedLuke Evans to release a cover of "Say Something", originally performed byA Great Big World andChristina Aguilera.[357]
^Ellis, Lucy; Sutherland, Bryony (October 2002).Nicole Kidman: the biography. Aurum. p. 34.ISBN9781854109262. Retrieved9 November 2015.Nicole withdrew from all acting jobs and enrolled on a massage course so that she could relieve her mother's suffering with physical therapy.
^Carnicke, Sharon Marie (2006). "The Material Poetry of Acting: 'Objects of Attention', Performance Style, and Gender inThe Shining andEyes Wide Shut".Journal of Film and Video.58 (1–2). University of Illinois Press:21–30.ISSN0742-4671.JSTOR20688513.
^Baron, Cynthia (2004).More Than a Method: Trends and Traditions in Contemporary Film Performance. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp. 260–261.ISBN0-8143-3079-7.OCLC54035239.
^Hoffman, Claire; Christensen, Kim (18 December 2005)."Tom Cruise and Scientology".Los Angeles Times. Archived fromthe original on 23 July 2012.Among other things, Britt said, Miscavige and his wife attended the star's 1990 wedding to Kidman in Colorado and then followed up with frequent gifts.
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