Nicole Kidman has captivated audiences for decades with her transformative performances in ‘Moulin Rouge!’, ‘Big Little Lies’, and ‘Babygirl’. She’s mastered the art of diving into characters’ deepest emotional wounds, peeling back layers of human fragility on screen. From Oscar-winning roles to critically acclaimed television, Kidman has dominated entertainment for over three decades. Now, the 58-year-old Australian icon is changing career types in a way no one saw coming.According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Kidman revealed at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym on Saturday, April 11, that she is embarking on a complete career change by training to become a death doula. Speaking as part of the school’s Silk Speaker Series, Kidman acknowledged the dramatic shift away from show business “may sound a little weird” but explained it was born directly from her mother Janelle Ann Kidman’s passing at age 84 in September 2024.
Why Nicole Kidman made this decision
Kidman told attendees that during her mother’s final days, she encountered a gap in care that no amount of family devotion could fill. “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide,” Kidman said via the Chronicle.She explained the challenge her family faced. Between herself, her sister Antonia, and their combined ten children, managing careers and caregiving proved overwhelming. “Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world anymore, and that’s when I went, ‘I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care,'” she shared.“So that’s part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning,” she added.
What is a death doula ?
Death doulas provide support to individuals and their loved ones approaching the final stages of life. According to the International End-of-Life Doula Association, “A death doula advocates self-determination and imparts psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and practical care to empower dignity throughout the process.”
A history of grief
According to People magazine, Kidman has previously spoken openly about the grief following both parental losses. Her father, Dr Antony Kidman, passed away in 2014. Within a month of her mother’s passing, Kidman described Janelle as a “compass” and “major guide” in her life and revealed she sometimes woke “crying and gasping” from the combined weight of losing both parents.She learned of her mother’s passing while at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024, preparing for the premiere of ‘Babygirl’. She departed early to be with her family. During what would have been her acceptance speech for best actress, the film’s director Halina Reijn read a letter on Kidman’s behalf, in which she wrote that she had travelled to Venice only to learn “shortly after that my beautiful, brave mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has just passed.“
