Nicole Kidman is an illustrious Australian actress whose career spans over four decades and has graced the screen with her exceptional talent and versatility. Beyond her cinematic achievements, Kidman’s journey is marked by intriguing facets, including a notable incident where she, despite her towering presence, once resorted to adjusting her reported height in pursuit of her early acting ambitions.
This captivating blend of talent and the occasional need for artful deception adds a unique dimension to Kidman’s compelling narrative in the world of cinema.
Nicole Kidman biography
Nicole Mary Kidman, born on June 20, 1967, is an Australian-American actress and producer. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, while her Australian parents were temporarily residing in the United States on student visas. Her mother was a nursing instructor and Women’s Electoral Lobby member who edited her husband’s books, while her father, Antony Kidman, was a biochemist, clinical psychologist and author.
Kidman has a younger sister, Antonia Kidman, who works as a journalist and TV presenter. Kidman holds dual citizenship in Australia and the United States and has English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. She was given the Hawaiian name, “Hōkūlani”, (meaning “heavenly star”) due to inspiration from a baby elephant born around the same time at the Honolulu Zoo.
The family returned to Australia three years after her birth and Kidman grew up in Sydney, Australia. She attended Lane Cove Public School and North Sydney Girls’ High School.
Kidman expressed her initial aspiration to become an actress after watching Margaret Hamilton’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Describing herself as shy, she mentioned overcoming a childhood stutter but occasionally regresses into shyness.
She developed her acting skills at Phillip Street Theatre and the Australian Theatre for Young People. She eventually dropped out of high school to pursue acting full-time.
Her achievements include winning an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Primetime Emmys and six Golden Globes.
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Nicole Kidman career
Kidman’s love for acting ignited at a young age. By the age of 14, she had landed her first significant role in the film BMX Bandits. Throughout the 1980s, her performances in Dead Calm and Emerald City captivated Australian audiences.
The 1990s marked Kidman’s breakthrough on the international stage. She collaborated with Tom Cruise in films like Days of Thunder and Eyes Wide Shut, which soared to global fame. Actively pursuing diverse roles, she showcased her depth through portrayals such as a tormented cellist in Birthday Girl and an intricately complex Batwoman in Batman Forever.
Entering the new millennium brought Kidman unparalleled critical acclaim. Her transformation into Virginia Woolf in The Hours earned her the Academy Award for “Best Actress”. She continued to star in films like Dogville, Moulin Rouge! and Cold Mountain.
In the 2010s, Kidman ventured into television with miniseries like Hemingway & Gellhorn and Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake, earning Primetime Emmy nominations. However, it was her role in HBO’s Big Little Lies as Celeste Wright that catapulted her to television superstardom, earning her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe award.
Kidman’s ambitions extend beyond acting. In 2010, she founded Blossom Films, a production company dedicated to empowering female filmmakers and bringing diverse stories to the screen. Projects like Lion and The Northman underscore her commitment to quality and artistry, solidifying her influence in the industry.
Kidman is currently at the pinnacle of her career, effortlessly transitioning between Hollywood blockbusters like Aquaman and independent gems like “Destroyer.” Her latest ventures include the Amazon series, Expats, and the biopic Being the Ricardos, where she portrays the legendary Lucille Ball.
Beyond the numerous awards and accolades, Kidman is a staunch advocate for human rights. Serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and UN Women, she utilises her platform to champion equality and empowerment.
Kidman’s commanding presence on the screen is unmistakable. However, the 5’11” actress once found herself compelled to downplay her reported height to secure roles in her early career.
In a recent interview, Kidman disclosed that she encountered bias due to her height, receiving feedback that she was “too tall” for certain roles. Recounting the challenges, she stated: “I was told, ‘You won’t have a career. You’re too tall.'”
Despite this discouragement, Kidman’s ambition remained unbroken. To enhance her chances of securing auditions, she admitted to adjusting the truth about her height, stating she was an inch or two shorter than her actual height.
“I used to say I was 5’10.5,” she admitted, “but I’m 5’11.”
Awards
In 2003, Kidman was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of her accomplishments in the motion picture industry. Alongside her Academy Award for “Best Actress” triumph, she boasts numerous other awards and nominations for her outstanding performances on both screen and stage.
Her accolades include four additional Academy Award nominations, a BAFTA Award from five nominations, two Laurence Olivier Award nominations, two Primetime Emmy Awards from three nominations, a Screen Actors Guild Award from 15 nominations, three Critics’ Choice Awards from 15 nominations and six Golden Globe Awards from seventeen nominations, among various others.
Nicole Kidman movies
Here is a glimpse into some of Kidman’s most notable movies:
- Dead Calm (1989): Kidman’s breakthrough performance as a woman terrorised by a mysterious stranger on a yacht.
- Days of Thunder (1990): A romantic drama showcasing her chemistry with Tom Cruise.
- Batman Forever (1995):** Stepped into the iconic role of Dr. Chase Meridian.
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- Moulin Rouge! (2001):** A vibrant musical extravaganza that earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
- The Hours (2002): Portrayed Virginia Woolf, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.
- Dogville (2003)
- Cold Mountain (2003): A sweeping Civil War epic where she (Kidman) reunites with Jude Law.
- Birth (2004): A psychological thriller with a complex and ambiguous narrative.
- Lion (2016)
- Big Little Lies (2017-2019): HBO miniseries that brought her an Emmy award.
- Being the Ricardos (2021): Portrayed the legendary Lucille Ball, receiving further Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
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Nicole Kidman’s net worth
Kidman has an estimated net worth of $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Nicole Kidman family
Kidman was formerly married to fellow actor, Tom Cruise, from 1990 to 2001. Their union began after meeting on the set of “Days of Thunder” in 1989 and they tied the knot just a year later. As a youthful and attractive couple, they swiftly became Hollywood’s “it” pair, captivating audiences with their onscreen chemistry and glamorous appearances on the red carpet.
The couple opted to adopt two children, Isabella and Connor, during their marriage. Kidman openly discussed the joys and challenges of motherhood, as well as the pressures of navigating adoption in the public eye.
Throughout their marital years, rumours circulated about Scientology, Tom Cruise’s association with the church, and its purported impact on their relationship. Although Kidman briefly attended Scientology classes, she ultimately decided not to adopt the religion. After 11 years, Tom Cruise filed for divorce in 2001, citing “irreconcilable differences”. This caused a stir in Hollywood and sparked speculation about the reasons behind their separation.
Kidman has mostly kept the details private, mentioning that she “protected” the relationship and marriage and she maintains a cordial relationship with Cruise for the sake of their children.
In 2006, Kidman exchanged vows with country singer, Keith Urban. They share two biological daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret.
In recent years, Kidman has openly discussed her marriage to Cruise, acknowledging its significance in her life and career while expressing relief at finding her current happiness. She stated that she would not be the person she is today without all her experiences, both joyous and challenging.
Nicole Kidman age
Kidman was born on June 20, 1967. She is currently 56 years old and will turn 57 in 2024.
Nicola Kidman Instagram
Nicola Kidman has an active social media presence on Instagram, with 9.9 million followers as of the time of writing this piece.
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