Nicole Kidman revealed she received the heartbreaking news just before stepping on stage to accept her award. She later described trying to reach the airport by boat at night before returning to her room alone.
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For Nicole Kidman, what should have been one of the happiest nights of her career turned into a deeply painful memory. Moments before stepping on stage to accept Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for ‘Babygirl’, the Hollywood star learned that her mother had passed away.
The contrast, she says, still haunts her.
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Speaking to Hoda Kotb during a History Talks panel in Philadelphia, Kidman opened up about that devastating moment. She revealed that she was literally about to go on stage when she received the news. Instead of celebrating, she went straight back to her hotel room in Venice.
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She described lying in bed, completely shattered, unsure how to process what had just happened. Her mother, Janelle Anne Kidman, had been a huge part of her life. The loss left her questioning how she would “move forward or function.”
Kidman recalled the emotional chaos that followed. In a state of shock, she got into a boat in the Venice canals late at night, trying to find her way to the airport. The plan was simple — go home to her family. But grief and exhaustion took over. She eventually turned around, returned to her room, and went back to bed.
She was alone. Her husband wasn’t there. Her children weren’t there. She had come to Venice for a beautiful moment of winning an award but instead faced one of the darkest nights of her life. “That there is the contrast of life,” she reflected, capturing the surreal mix of joy and heartbreak.
Janelle Anne Kidman wasn’t just a parent. She was a strong presence in Nicole’s life. She worked as a nursing instructor and was also part of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, an Australian feminist group. She passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84.
Kidman later shared another emotional detail during the Silk Speaker Series at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym. She spoke about the loneliness her mother experienced near the end of her life. With busy careers, large families, and responsibilities, she and her sister tried their best to care for her. But she admitted that sometimes it felt like it wasn’t enough.
Her father had already passed away, which made the situation even harder. Kidman said she wished there were people who could provide calm, impartial comfort to those nearing the end of life.
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