Nicole Kidman biography, age, height, husband, net worth, children 2025

Nicole Kidman Biography

Nicole Mary Kidman is an Australian and Hollywood actress and Officer of the Order of Australia. She's won an Oscar, four Golden Globes, plus BAFTA, Emmy, and Saturn Awards. She became a worldwide sensation through her roles in the TV series "Bangkok Hilton" and films like "Billy Bathgate," "To Die For," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Moulin Rouge!," "Dogville," "Before I Go to Sleep," and many others.

Childhood and Family

Nicole Kidman was born on June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, the resort capital of the island state of Hawaii. Her parents were Australians Antony David Kidman (1938-2014) and Janelle Ann Kidman (née Glenny).

When Nicole was born, her father was pursuing his master's in clinical psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The family later moved to Washington, where Antony joined the National Institute of Mental Health and Janelle became a nursing instructor. Both parents were politically active, participating in protests against the Vietnam War. In 1970, the family returned to Australia, and soon after, they had another daughter, Antonia, who would go on to become a well-known journalist and TV presenter.

Nicole attended a public school in Lane Cove, a Sydney suburb, before graduating from North Sydney Girls High School. She started ballet lessons at three and got her first taste of drama in elementary school.

Despite her graceful appearance and many talents, Nicole was an incredibly shy child:

I'm very shy – genuinely very shy. As a kid, I even had a stutter that I gradually overcame. But I still sometimes slip back into that shyness. So I get uncomfortable walking into a crowded restaurant alone or going to a party without someone by my side.

During high school, Nicole studied acting at the Phillip Street Theatre alongside her classmate and friend Naomi Watts, and at the Australian Theatre for Young People. Her talent impressed her teachers, who encouraged her to pursue acting professionally.

Career Beginnings

The young actress made her film debut in 1982 at age 14 – Nicole appeared in the family film "Bush Christmas," which still gets regular airplay during the holiday season.

After that, Australian directors started calling regularly: the series "Five Mile Creek" (1983-1984), the film "BMX Bandits" (1983), where she landed the lead female role – a red-headed girl who teams up with friends to foil a bank robbery, and the romantic comedy "Windrider" (1986), in which Nicole transformed into Jade, a singer who falls for a surfing heir to a multi-million dollar fortune.

Then came "Watch the Shadows Dance" (1987), the series "The Bit Part," the miniseries "Vietnam" (1986), "Emerald City," and more. By the late 1980s, Nicole Kidman had become a household name in Australia.

Young Nicole Kidman in the movie "Windrider"

International recognition came with the miniseries "Bangkok Hilton" (1988), which sold broadcast rights to countries worldwide. Nicole played a young woman framed at Thai customs – and as everyone knows, Thailand doesn't mess around with drug smuggling, even for tourists. Her character's life literally hung in the balance.

Nicole Kidman in the TV series "Bangkok Hilton"

Hollywood came calling after that. In 1989, as part of an Australian cast, she landed the lead in the thriller "Dead Calm" – a film whose success opened a whole new chapter in her career. Nicole started working regularly in Hollywood, and her first fully American production was the drama "Days of Thunder," where she starred opposite her future husband Tom Cruise.

For the role of Dr. Lewicki, Kidman received a then-record $200,000

In 1991, she appeared in the Australian independent film "Flirting," which won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film, then jumped into the Hollywood crime drama "Billy Bathgate," where she worked alongside Dustin Hoffman. This film earned the actress her first Golden Globe nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Hollywood Career Peak

In 1992, Nicole Kidman reunited with Tom Cruise, this time in the adventure drama Far and Away. And while critics dismissed the film's "flat and overly simplistic" plot as "seemingly written for teenagers," it crushed it at the box office, pulling in $137 million. Audiences couldn't get enough of their on-screen chemistry – you could practically feel the sparks flying through the screen.

Far and Away – one of the best films in Kidman's filmography

Hot on its heels came the thriller Malice (1993, with Alec Baldwin), which cemented the actress as a bona fide Hollywood star. "After somewhat dull roles in pictures like Days of Thunder and Far and Away, Australian Kidman finally showed her true strength as an actress, while also nailing a flawless American accent," critics wrote.

The drama My Life (1993, partnering with Michael Keaton) landed with less impact, but then Nicole starred in one of her biggest hits – the superhero blockbuster Batman Forever (1995), where she shared the screen with Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, and others.

Val Kilmer and Nicole Kidman (photo shoot for Batman Forever)

The film raked in $336 million worldwide, and critics called it "lighter, brighter, funnier, and more dynamic than anything before it," though they also slapped it with the questionable title of "eye candy." Batman Forever scored 3 Oscar nominations, 4 Saturn Award nods, one Golden Globe nomination, plus 6 MTV Movie Award nominations – including "Most Desirable Female" for Nicole Kidman.

Nicole Kidman was considered one of the most beautiful women of the '90s

Soon after came another standout film with Nicole Kidman – the black comedy To Die For, which earned the actress a Golden Globe. And while the film's box office barely topped its budget, critics couldn't stop gushing about her performance:

The gorgeous Suzanne, played by Nicole Kidman, is the most captivating movie villainess of them all... Kidman brings the finest layers of meaning, intention, and motive to this role.

The actress then successfully appeared in The Portrait of a Lady (1996, featuring John Malkovich), The Peacemaker (1997, partnering with George Clooney), the supernatural romance Practical Magic (1998, paired with Sandra Bullock), and the erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut (1999, alongside Tom Cruise).

The 2001 release of the musical "Moulin Rouge!" marked another major breakthrough in the actress's career. Her lead performance earned her an Oscar nomination, plus Golden Globe and Satellite Awards. Ewan McGregor landed the male lead, though Leonardo DiCaprio, Heath Ledger, and Jake Gyllenhaal were all considered for the role.

Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Song from 'Moulin Rouge!'

The actors performed all their own vocals and dance numbers, which meant intensive rehearsals had to start months before filming began. "It was such an amazing role for me, completely different from anything else," the actress recalled. "My character sings, dances – there's so much comedy, so much tragedy, so much everything... It was incredible, so unusual!"

A completely different role came that same year in the supernatural horror film "The Others," which pulled in $210 million at the box office. The performance earned Nicole a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination.

2002 proved just as successful, bringing another landmark performance – Virginia Woolf in "The Hours," where she starred alongside a brilliant trio with Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. The film scored nine Oscar nominations, but won only one – Best Actress for Nicole Kidman.

In the movie The Hours, Nicole Kidman was a brunette

After receiving cinema's highest honor, the actress revealed what it meant to her: "Deep down, I'm very independent, I'm a rebel and a nonconformist. And when I got the Oscar, it became a kind of justification for my career choice, especially for my parents and loved ones. Like I can now say: 'See, I didn't make a mistake!' I didn't go to college, and both my parents have higher education, so the Oscar is now like a diploma for me. Maybe even like a doctorate."

Nicole Kidman and her 2002 Oscar for Best Actress

The string of memorable roles continued in 2003 with director Lars von Trier's "Dogville," which sparked polarizing reactions as "anti-human cinema" and "a provocative example of experimental directing." In the story, Nicole's character escapes her past mistakes in a small working-class town, where residents give her shelter in exchange for working off her debt. The film used almost no sets – for example, townspeople's homes were simply outlined on the ground.

Nicole Kidman in the drama Dogville by von Trier

After this heavy and dark film, the actress appeared in two big-budget comedies – "The Stepford Wives" (2004, with Matthew Broderick) and "Bewitched" (2005, based on the popular TV series). Though both films received a lukewarm reception from critics, and "Bewitched" even earned Nicole a Golden Raspberry anti-award, audiences responded positively to the actress in comedic roles.

A shot from the movie The Stepford Wives

A bit earlier, in late 2004, the psychological drama "Birth" was released, but it didn't get a wide theatrical release in the US due to an erotic, though fairly innocent scene between Nicole's character and a 10-year-old boy. Despite this, the film played successfully in Europe and earned the actress a Golden Globe nomination.

73 Questions With Nicole Kidman | Vogue

Around the same time, Sidney Pollack's political thriller "The Interpreter" (2005) hit screens, with Nicole Kidman starring opposite Sean Penn. But the film didn't quite live up to its creators' hopes, and critics began suggesting that Nicole's star period was approaching its sunset.

Nicole Kidman in the movie Australia (2008)

Still, Nicole Kidman went on to star in many more intriguing films. Her credits include the biographical drama about photographer Diane Arbus, "Fur" (2006), the sci-fi thriller "The Invasion" (2007, opposite Daniel Craig), the comedy "Margot at the Wedding" (2007), the fantasy adaptation "The Golden Compass" (2007), the epic drama "Australia" (2008, opposite Hugh Jackman), the psychological drama "Rabbit Hole" (2010), the musical "Nine" (2009, alongside Daniel Day-Lewis), the thriller "Trespass" (2011, opposite Nicolas Cage), and the romantic comedy "Just Go with It" (2011, starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler).

A New Chapter

Nicole Kidman's career renaissance kicked off in 2012 with the TV drama Hemingway & Gellhorn, exploring the relationship between the legendary writer (played by Clive Owen) and his wife. Critics warmly embraced her performance: "At 45, Kidman still looks stunning and delivers powerhouse work." The role earned Nicole another Golden Globe nomination, plus an Emmy nod.

In 2012, Kidman's career got a second wind

That same year brought The Paperboy, a detective thriller featuring what many consider "the most surprising transformation" of Nicole's career: Her recent work includes the psychological thriller Stoker (2013, starring Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode, which brought Nicole a Saturn Award nomination), the biographical drama Grace of Monaco (2014, playing Princess Grace Kelly), the war drama The Railway Man (2014, alongside Colin Firth), the detective thriller Before I Go to Sleep (2014, with Colin Firth and Mark Strong), the family film Paddington (2015) and its sequel Paddington 2 (2017), and more.

In 2016, she appeared in the Australian biographical drama Lion, which earned critical acclaim and pulled in $140 million worldwide. The film brought Nicole Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress, along with several other prestigious honors.

In 2017, Nicole launched work on the TV series Big Little Lies alongside Reese Witherspoon, Alexander Skarsgård, and other cast members—and the first season became a massive hit.

The cast of the TV series Big Little Lies

While working on the series, she also starred in Sofia Coppola's dramatic thriller The Beguiled (2017, featuring Colin Farrell, Elle Fanning, and Kirsten Dunst), the sci-fi romantic comedy How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and the psychological thriller The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

In March 2018, filming began on the second season of Big Little Lies, where Nicole plays one of the lead roles.

Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies

2018 also saw the release of the fantasy action film Aquaman, starring Nicole alongside Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, and Dolph Lundgren. At the same time, she was filming the drama Boy Erased with Russell Crowe and the crime thriller Destroyer, where she takes the lead role.

Nicole Kidman will appear in The Goldfinch in 2019

She also played a supporting but crucial role (Mrs. Barbour, the main character's friend's mother) in the drama The Goldfinch, which hit theaters in fall 2019. The lead was played by Ansel Elgort.

When the psychological series Nine Perfect Strangers dropped in 2021, viewers immediately got it: this wasn't just another Nicole Kidman role – this was a full-on transformation. Her mysterious guru Masha, a Russian émigré, was so convincing it felt like she could genuinely see into everyone's soul. And those Australian landscapes as the backdrop...

Nicole Kidman with straight white hair in a black leather coat and white sweater — Nicole Kidman in Nine Perfect Strangers

Nicole, by the way, took on two roles here – she also served as one of the producers. Liane Moriarty's bestselling book spent three months at the top of The New York Times list, and Kidman decided: this story needs to be on screen. She wasn't wrong.

That same year brought her another challenge – playing Lucille Ball in the biographical film Being the Ricardos. This was a real-life figure, a comedy actress you might remember from the black-and-white sitcom I Love Lucy.

When the first photos from the set appeared online, the reaction was lukewarm. People said she didn't look like her at all! But critics later honestly admitted – they were wrong. Kidman didn't copy the famous comedic actress; instead, she showed a living woman with all her fears and ambitions. Working with a vocal coach to capture Lucille's voice, studying archival materials...

On the left Nicole Kidman in Lucille Ball makeup, on the right a portrait of Lucille Ball — Nicole Kidman in Being the Ricardos and the real Lucille Ball

Javier Bardem as her husband, Cuban Desi Arnaz, proved to be the perfect match, and director Aaron Sorkin, naturally, squeezed every bit out of this story. The result? An Oscar nomination – what more can you say.

In 2022, Nicole returned to blockbusters. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom got delayed so many times you lost count, but Queen Atlanna, played by Kidman, remained one of the few stable elements in all that chaos.

Advertising Projects

Nicole Kidman hasn't done many advertising campaigns, but each one stands out both for its artistic merit and its price tag.

From 2004 to 2008, the actress was the face of Chanel's Chanel No. 5 perfume. The pinnacle of this campaign was a three-minute commercial for which she earned $12 million.

CHANEL N°5, the film with Nicole Kidman

Beyond that, in 2005 and 2010, Nicole appeared in ads for Swiss watchmaker Omega, representing the Omega Watches and Ladymatic brands.

In 2007, she also signed with Nintendo DS to promote the More Brain Training intellectual game series in the European market.

Public Service and Awards

Nicole Kidman never finished college, but it wasn't her acting career that got in the way—it was a family crisis. In 1984, when she was 17, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The young Nicole dropped everything and enrolled in physical therapy and massage courses so she could devote herself completely to caring for her mom.

Her daughter's help and support, combined with cutting-edge treatment, helped Janelle recover, and Nicole has since participated in various campaigns and public projects fighting cancer. She's also supported foundations helping children from troubled families and organizations combating domestic violence.

In 2006, Nicole Kidman was awarded the Order of Australia "for her acting work and creation of outstanding cinematic art, for her contribution to healthcare through financial support of medical services for women and children and cancer research, for working with youth and supporting young actors, and for humanitarian work in Australia and abroad."

In 2006, for her work against domestic violence, the actress was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Women's Fund (UNIFEM), and in 2009, Australia issued postage stamps featuring her image.

Nicole Kidman's Personal Life

In the 1980s, Nicole dated Australian actor Marcus Graham, and then in December 1989, on the set of Days of Thunder, she met Tom Cruise. When the 23-year-old starlet saw this handsome but not-so-tall guy, she got nervous—she figured her height would cost her the role. But Cruise was captivated by the red-haired beauty at first sight and lobbied the director on her behalf—and just like that, Nicole joined the cast.

Things moved fast: for this stunning Australian, Tom Cruise divorced his wife Mimi Rogers, and on December 24, 1990, 28-year-old Tom and 23-year-old Nicole got married.

If you lived through the '90s, you probably remember that Cruise and Kidman were synonymous with solid marriage, trust, and true union of souls. The husband and wife joked that sometimes they couldn't tell where he ended and she began, and once Tom admitted that 12 days spent without Nicole felt like hell on Earth.

The only thing that cast a shadow over their union was the absence of children, which the young couple dreamed of having. They couldn't conceive, so they decided to adopt. On December 22, 1992, they adopted Isabella Jane, and on January 18, 1995, they adopted Connor Anthony. Nicole later admitted she didn't fully understand why she started a family so young: "By 27, I already had two kids and four years of marriage under my belt. But that's what I wanted."

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman seemed perfectly happy on the outside, but in February 2001, Cruise suddenly decided to divorce his wife without really explaining why. In the paperwork, he cited the standard "irreconcilable differences." The real reason might have been jealousy, or maybe Catholic Nicole's refusal to join Tom's religion – Scientology.

The couple didn't know Nicole was in the early stages of pregnancy at that moment, but she later lost the baby due to stress.

The whole country watched as two stars who'd seemed rock-solid split up. Isabella Jane and Connor Anthony remained under joint custody of both adoptive parents, but spent more time with their father and were introduced to the Church of Scientology. Right after the divorce, Tom Cruise started a new relationship with Penelope Cruz, his co-star from "Vanilla Sky."

This is what Kidman and Cruise's adopted children look like now

After splitting with Tom, Nicole had brief relationships with several men: actor Tobey Maguire, musician Robbie Williams, and musician Lenny Kravitz. In January 2005, she met Australian singer Keith Urban, and on June 25, 2006, they got married.

Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban

According to the actress, their love developed incredibly fast: "We didn't even really get to know each other properly – we learned about each other later, in marriage." On July 7, 2008, Nicole finally fulfilled her dream of having a biological child: she gave birth to daughter Sunday Rose Kidman-Urban. And on December 28, 2010, the couple had a second daughter – Faith Margaret Kidman-Urban; though they used a surrogate mother, she's the couple's biological daughter.

Journalists trumpeted Nicole and Keith Urban's divorce practically every month. But the couple kept showing up together on red carpets, looking perfectly happy. Then in September 2025, People magazine reported that the couple had filed for divorce. According to the publication, Kidman initiated it and "the decision wasn't easy for her."

Her relationship with her children from her first marriage – Isabella and Connor – is complicated.

Remember that awkward moment at the 2018 Golden Globes? Kidman mentioned only her biological daughters in her acceptance speech, seemingly forgetting the adopted ones. Naturally, journalists pounced – questions came flying.

Nicole later explained: the kids chose Scientology, just like their father Tom Cruise. And that belief system, to put it mildly, doesn't encourage close ties with "incorrectly believing" people. The actress emphasized that adults have the right to decide how to live their own lives. What can you say... family matters are sometimes more complicated than any Hollywood script.

But when it comes to her girlfriends, Nicole's got it figured out. She and Naomi Watts go way back to when they were both unknown newcomers. Real friendship, tested by years and fame.

Reese Witherspoon became a close friend after shooting "Big Little Lies." And Simon Baker's practically family at this point. Fun detail: Naomi Watts is godmother to Baker's older son, while Kidman has the younger one.

Nicole Kidman Now

2024 turned out to be packed. The rom-com "A Family Affair" caused such a stir on social media, you could've dedicated an entire thread to it. Nicole played a mom who falls for her daughter's young boss. Spicy? You bet! And her co-star was Zac Efron – not their first rodeo, by the way. They already grabbed attention with steamy scenes in 2012's "The Paperboy," and decided to go for round two.

Close-up of Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman's faces, moment before a kiss — Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman in "A Family Affair"

But the most intriguing news involved "Practical Magic." After more than twenty years, Nicole and Sandra Bullock became witch sisters again! The sequel to the 1998 film was set to premiere in September 2026. Kidman told reporters she'd been dreaming about returning to the role of Gillian Owens.

September 2024 brought two premieres at once. Netflix launched the thriller "The Perfect Couple" based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel – a story about a wealthy hostess whose home becomes the scene of a mysterious murder. Critics unanimously noted: Kidman's character came out layered and unpredictable.

The Venice Film Festival premiered the erotic drama "Babygirl." Nicole's partner was Antonio Banderas, and European critics didn't hold back on praise – especially for the actress's emotional boldness.

Antonio Banderas and Nicole Kidman sitting on a couch embracing — Still from "Babygirl"

February 2025 added another line to her list of achievements: Time magazine included Kidman in its list of the world's most influential women. Her portrait graced the cover – and for good reason. The publication specifically emphasized: the actress knows how to stay relevant, breaking age stereotypes and showing just how diverse women's roles can be.

Collage of Nicole Kidman photos, on the left she's on the Time magazine cover, on the right posing on the floor in a beige dress — Nicole Kidman for Time magazine (March 2025 issue)

Nicole Kidman: latest news and articles

Mary Martin

Nicole is kind of idol in the world of cinematography. I adore her roles and how she looks on the shot.

2021-05-12 19:08:48
Mary Sims

I love movie The Hours with Nicole. She won Oscar with this one.

2021-04-05 16:11:07
Matthew Justin Roberts

Nicole has many different images, from a housewife till a shieldmaiden of underwater world and I didn`t expect to see her in Aquaman.

2021-04-04 23:15:01
Edward Cole

Yes, at the time Nicole won an Oscar and I think it`s not the last one because she is playing great!

2021-03-15 18:16:34
Karen Mason

The appearance of Nicole Kidman I never like but as an actress she is good. If Nicole is playing in the movie, it means I`m gonna watch it.

2021-03-07 13:30:09

Nicole Kidman

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