Nicole Kidman has opened up about the death of her mother while accepting an award in California this week. The Australian actress’ mother Janelle died in September after a long illness.
Kidman, 57, was accepting the 2024 Sherry Lansing Leadership Award on Thursday as her daughter Faith watched on.
“My daughter is here and last night, in the name of trying to do it all, I was at the choir concert watching her sing… I started crying because my Mama loved choir,’ Kidman said.
Watch the video above.
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“So, suddenly, it was three months down the track from losing her, but I’m seeing my daughter stand there with her whole future ahead of her,” she said.
She said her daughter Faith acted as her “mentor” in this moment because she comforted her “because I broke down with her and she said, ‘It’s OK Mama, you’re going to be OK’.”
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Kidman added that “even though I don’t have my Mama anymore, I have my daughters”.
The actress has four children, two adopted children with ex-husband Tom Cruise and two daughters with current husband Keith Urban, Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith, 13.
Kidman is reportedly estranged from her adopted children Isabella, 31, and Connor, 29.
Both Bella and Connor keep low profiles, though both have been involved in creative fields.
Bella is a fashion designer, getting her start working for Holmes and Yang, the fashion line owned by Cruise’s ex-wife and her ex-stepmother, Katie Holmes.
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Connor got his first taste of Hollywood fame starring alongside Will Smith in Seven Pounds, and later the 2012 film Red Dawn.
He then switched to music, releasing his debut single in 2013 and playing DJ gigs.
Kidman’s daughter Sunday Rose made her modelling debut on October 1, walking for Miu Miu during their Spring/Summer 2025 fashion show at Paris Fashion Week.
Of her daughter’s career the actress told The Hollywood Reporter: ”That’s all driven by her. Me going, ‘Oh no, I don’t think so.'”
Kidman was there to watch her daughter’s big moment and later reposted images of her walking in the fashion show to her millions of followers.
Kidman posted a message following their mother’s death.
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“My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” she said.
“Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express.
“Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other ❤️.”
When the A-lister announced the death of her mother, she rushed to leave the 81st Venice Film Festival early to be with her family in Australia.
In a touching letter that was read out on her behalf at the event, Kidman said she was “in shock” and said her late mother “shaped me, guided me and made me”.
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