Nicole Kidman Reflects on Mother’s Death
Nicole Kidman recently shared her feelings about her mother’s death during a talk on HISTORYTalks 2026. The 58-year-old actress touched on the moment she learned of her mother’s passing just before accepting the Best Actress award for “Baby Girl” at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024.
“I won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival, and this seems to be a very common theme throughout my life,” she remarked.
She recounted the shock of receiving the news, saying, “As I was about to go on stage, I learned that my mother had passed away. I immediately went back to my room in Venice and went to bed, completely devastated.”
Kidman expressed how overwhelming it was to lose her mother, stating, “My mother was a part of my being. It was devastating to think of her being there at that moment.”
She described arriving at the festival to celebrate, only to have it turn into a “horrendous” experience. The actress quickly made plans to leave Venice after that news. “I remember boarding a boat on the canal and literally trying to find my way to the airport at night and then turning around and leaving. I can’t even do that,” she recalled.
Feeling utterly alone, Kidman shared, “My husband wasn’t there. My kids weren’t there. I went to get the award. What was supposed to be beautiful ended up being that. But life has contrasts.”
After this difficult experience, she encourages others by saying, “That’s when you know you’re resilient,” adding that most challenges can be overcome.
Her mother, Janelle, passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84. Two years later, Kidman mentioned her desire to become a death doula, sharing this with investigative journalist Vicki Nguyen during a talk at a private school event.
“I was lonely after my mother passed away, so there was a limit to what my family could do,” she reflected on her loss. Kidman hoped for support during that difficult time, saying, “I wished there were people in the world who would sit there fairly and just give me comfort and care.” Her sister Antonia has six kids, while Kidman has two daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 15, with ex-husband Keith Urban.
Throughout the years, Kidman has often highlighted the deep bond she shared with her mother, recalling how Janelle encouraged her to chase her dreams. “She carved her own path and wanted to give her daughters the same opportunity,” Kidman stated. “Although her mother didn’t always have the career path she wanted, she was determined that her daughters would have equal opportunities. It gave me life, and she gave me life, and so did my father.”
Now, Kidman continues to be a supportive mother, notably as her daughter Sunday begins her modeling career, debuting on the runway for Miu Miu during Paris Fashion Week in 2025.
