Nicole Kidman revealed she learned of her mother's death moments before accepting the best actress award for 'Babygirl' at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. She shared the emotional story during an interview at the History Talks event in Philadelphia on Saturday. Kidman described the devastation and her attempt to leave the city that night.
Nicole Kidman recounted the harrowing moment during a History Talks panel in Philadelphia, interviewed by Hoda Kotb. 'I was about to go out on stage, and I found out that my mother had passed,' she said. After receiving the news, Kidman returned to her hotel room, overwhelmed. 'I was completely devastated,' she added, questioning how she would move forward without her mother, whom she described as central to her existence. She then attempted to navigate Venice's canals by boat at night to reach the airport but turned back, alone without her husband or children nearby. Kidman credited her mother, Janelle Anne Kidman—a nursing instructor and member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby—for instilling resilience. 'She told me: don’t ever let anyone break your spirit,' Kidman said. Her mother also encouraged her to persist in Hollywood during a career lull in her 40s, leading to projects like producing 'Rabbit Hole,' a $3.5 million film that earned her a third Oscar nomination. The experience at Venice, she said, reinforced her ability to endure challenges. History Talks at the Kimmel Center featured other figures including Tom Brady, Jason Kelce, Garth Brooks, Tina Fey, Colin Jost, and former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton with their spouses. Kidman recently promoted 'Practical Magic 2' at CinemaCon and stars in upcoming series 'Margo’s Got Money Problems' on Apple TV+ and 'Scarpetta' on Prime Video.
