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

Nicole Kidman's Biography

Nicole Mary Kidman is an Australian and Hollywood actress, and Companion of Order of Australia. She's won numerous awards including an Academy Award, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and a Saturn Award. She gained worldwide recognition for her roles in the television miniseries "Bangkok Hilton" and acclaimed films like "To Die For," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Moulin Rouge!," "Dogville," "The Hours," and many others. Net worth: $34 million.

Childhood and Family

Nicole Kidman was born on June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. Her Australian parents, Antony Kidman (1938–2014) and Janelle Ann Kidman (née Glenny), were living there on student visas.

At the time of Nicole's birth, her father was a clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. The family later moved to Washington, where Antony began working at the National Institute of Mental Health, while Janelle Ann became a nursing instructor. Both parents were politically active and strongly opposed the Vietnam War, often participating in anti-war protests. In 1970, the family moved back to Australia, where they had another daughter, Antonia, who later became a well-known journalist and TV presenter.

At the time of Nicole's birth, her father was a clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. The family later moved to Washington, where Antony began working at the National Institute of Mental Health, while Janelle Ann became a nursing instructor. Both parents were politically active and strongly opposed the Vietnam War, often participating in anti-war protests. In 1970, the family moved back to Australia, where they had another daughter, Antonia, who later became a well-known journalist and TV presenter.

Nicole Kidman attended Lane Cove Public School in Sydney's suburbs and later graduated from North Sydney Girls' High School. She started ballet classes at age three and fell in love with theater and acting during her primary school years.

Despite her striking appearance and various talents, Nicole was a timid and very shy child:

I am very shy – really shy – I even had a stutter as a kid, which I slowly got over, but I still regress into that shyness. So I don't like walking into a crowded restaurant by myself; I don't like going to a party by myself.

When Nicole was in high school, she took acting classes at the Phillip Street Theatre, which she attended with her classmate and friend Naomi Watts. She also attended the Australian Theatre for Young People. There she received praise for her acting talent and was encouraged to pursue acting full-time.

Beginning of the acting career

In 1982, when Nicole was just 14 years old, she made her film debut in the family movie "Bush Christmas", which still airs during the holiday season in Australia to this day.

She was then cast in various Australian projects, including the television series "Five Mile Creek" (1983 – 1984), the adventure crime drama "BMX Bandits" (1983), where Nicole played the leading role of a red-haired young girl who, together with friends, accidentally disrupts a bank robbery, and the romantic comedy "Windrider" (1986), where she portrayed Jade, a singer and love interest of an enthusiastic windsurfer who's heir to a multimillion-dollar fortune.

She then appeared in "Watch the Shadows Dance" (1987, also known as "Nightmaster"), the soap opera "A Country Practice", the miniseries "Vietnam" (1986), the film "Emerald City" and many others. By the end of the '80s, Nicole Kidman had become a well-known young actress throughout Australia.

Nicole Kidman gained worldwide recognition after her role in the Australian miniseries "Bangkok Hilton" (1988), as broadcasting rights were bought by numerous countries. Nicole portrayed a young girl who was set up at Thailand's airport customs and, with the death penalty for drug trafficking applying even to tourists, her life hung in the balance.

Nicole Kidman in TV miniseries "Bangkok Hilton"

In 1989, the actress was invited to Hollywood and given a leading role in the Australian psychological thriller "Dead Calm" – a movie that opened a new chapter in Kidman's career. Right after this film, she began actively working with Hollywood directors, and her first fully American debut was the sports action drama "Days of Thunder", where she starred alongside her future husband Tom Cruise.

Kidman received a record salary of $200 thousand for her role of Dr. Claire Lewicki

According to Zoomboola.com, in 1991 Kidman co-starred in the Australian independent film "Flirting", which received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film. That same year she appeared in American gangster drama "Billy Bathgate" alongside Dustin Hoffman. The film earned Kidman her first Golden Globe Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actress.

Hollywood recognition

In 1992, Kidman reunited with Tom Cruise for the epic romantic adventure drama "Far and Away." Despite harsh reviews calling the plot "plain and too worn down, as if written for teenagers," the film was a box office hit, earning $137 million. Audiences couldn't miss the electric chemistry between the stars that practically jumped off the screen.

"Far and Away" – one of the earliest Kidman's works

The next year, Kidman starred in the neo-noir thriller "Malice" (1993), alongside Alec Baldwin. The film solidified Nicole's reputation as Hollywood's next big thing.

Her follow-up "My Life" (1993, opposite Michael Keaton) didn't make waves, but her next project was a game-changer. Nicole landed a role in the blockbuster superhero film "Batman Forever" (1995), working alongside Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, and Tommy Lee Jones.

Val Kilmer and Nicole Kidman (promo shoot for "Batman Forever")

The film earned $336 million at the box office, with critics praising it as "lighter, brighter, funnier, faster-paced, and a whole lot more colorful than before," though some dismissed it as "great bubblegum for the eyes."

Nicole Kidman is considered to be one of the most beautiful women of the '90s

That same year, Gus Van Sant's critically acclaimed dark comedy "To Die For" hit theaters, starring Nicole Kidman. The actress received the Golden Globe Award for this role. While the film barely broke even at the box office, critics were absolutely blown away:

Ms. Kidman`s teasingly beautiful Suzanne is the most alluring of media-mad monsters Kidman brings to the role layers of meaning, intention, and impulse.

She went on to star in "The Portrait of a Lady" (1996, opposite John Malkovich), the action-thriller "The Peacemaker" (1998, with George Clooney), romantic comedy "Practical Magic" (1998, alongside Sandra Bullock), and Stanley Kubrick's erotic drama "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999, with her then-husband Tom Cruise).

Kidman's next major breakthrough came in 2001 with the musical drama "Moulin Rouge!," where she played a cabaret actress and courtesan. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and received the Golden Globe Award as well as the Satellite Award for her performance.

Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. A song from "Moulin Rouge!"

The cast performed their own singing and dancing, with intense rehearsals lasting several months before filming began. "It was an extraordinary role, unlike all the others," Nicole recalled. "She dances and sings, and everything is full of comedy and drama and everything... This was unforgettable, absolutely wonderful!"

Kidman portrayed a completely different character in her next big film – a supernatural gothic horror "The Others" (2001), which grossed $210 million worldwide. The actress received the Saturn Award and another Golden Globe Award nomination.

Snapshot from the horror film "The Others"

The following year proved even more successful – Kidman landed one of her most iconic roles in the drama "The Hours" (2002), where she portrayed writer Virginia Woolf. The movie stars brilliant Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. "The Hours" earned nine Academy Award nominations but took home just one – Best Actress for Nicole Kidman.

Kidman had to dye her hair black for "The Hours"

Upon receiving this highest honor in cinema, the actress shared what it meant to her: "In my heart, I'm independent, a bit of a rebel, a non-conformist. So winning the Oscar in some ways validated my choice of career particularly to say my parents and some people around me because suddenly that's such a prestigious award and it means that you can say to your mom and your dad: "You see? I made the right choice!" I didn't get my degree and I come from academic parents so in some ways the Oscar is like a degree. Maybe it's your PhD!"

Nicole Kidman with her "Oscar" for the Best Actress in 2002

Kidman's series of memorable roles continued with her performance in the avant-garde crime drama "Dogville" (2003), directed by Lars von Trier. The film drew polarizing reviews from critics and audiences, with some calling it "anti-human" and "a challenging piece of experimental filmmaking." The plot centers around Kidman's character, who tries to escape her past, hiding out in a small town, while being protected by its inhabitants in exchange for small favors and chores. "Dogville" stands out for its almost complete lack of sets – the townspeople's houses were simply outlined in chalk on the ground.

Nicole Kidman in Von Trier's drama "Dogville"

After this dark and disturbing picture, Kidman went on to play in two high-budget comedies – a black comedy-science-fiction film "The Stepford Wives" (2004, opposite Matthew Broderick) and a romantic comedy fantasy film "Bewitched" (2005, based on the TV sitcom of the same name). Despite scathing critical reviews and a Razzie Award for "Worst Screen Couple," audiences enjoyed watching Nicole in her comedic role.

A bit earlier, at the end of 2004, Jonathan Glazer's psychological drama "Birth" premiered. The film never received wide release due to a highly controversial (though innocent) scene where Kidman's character bathes with a 10-year-old boy. Critics, however, gave Kidman's performance rave reviews, calling it one of the best of her career. The film was a box office success in Europe and yielded another Golden Globe nomination for the actress.

73 Questions With Nicole Kidman

Around the same time, Sydney Pollack's political thriller "The Interpreter" (2005) came out, where Kidman starred opposite Sean Penn. Unfortunately, the film disappointed both audiences and critics, with some harsh reviews suggesting it might damage Kidman's career.

But Nicole bounced back with a string of diverse projects. She appeared in the biopic "Fur" (2006) as photographer Diane Arbus, then the sci-fi thriller "The Invasion" (2007) opposite Daniel Craig, the fantasy adventure "The Golden Compass" (2007), the sweeping romantic drama "Australia" (2008) alongside Hugh Jackman, the intense psychological drama "Rabbit Hole" (2008), the musical "Nine" (2009) with Daniel Day-Lewis, the action thriller "Trespass" (2011) as a married couple with Nicolas Cage, and the romantic comedy "Just Go With It" (2011) with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler.

The new spin of Kidman's career

Kidman hit a career high with the 2012 biopic "Hemingway & Gellhorn," exploring the relationship between the legendary American writer (portrayed by Clive Owen) and his wife. The drama earned her another Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy nod.

In 2012 Nicole Kidman got her second wind

That same year saw the release of thriller drama "The Paperboy." Critics hailed Kidman's leading role as "the most extraordinary transformation" of her career:

Renouncing the goddess image she has so frequently assumed, her Charlotte is a ripe, feral creature, working all her sexual wiles just for exercise.

During this prolific period, Nicole Kidman appeared in numerous films, among which are a psychological drama "Stoker" (2013, starring Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode, Kidman received a Saturn Award nomination for her performance), biographical drama "Grace of Monaco" (2014, where she embodied Grace Kelly), a historical drama "The Railway Man" (2014, opposite Colin Firth), a thriller "Before I Go to Sleep" (2014, reuniting her with Colin Firth), an animated family film "Paddington" (2015) and its sequel "Paddington 2", and many others.

"Stoker": Nicole Kidman as Evelyn Stoker

In 2016, Kidman's performance in biographical drama "Lion" earned rave reviews, with the film becoming both a critical darling and audience favorite, grossing $140 million worldwide. Nicole scored numerous award nominations, including Academy Award and Golden Globe nods for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2017, Nicole starred in and produced the television miniseries "Big Little Lies", starring Reese Witherspoon, Alexander Skarsgård, and many others. The first season became a critical and audience sensation.

The cast of miniseries "Big Little Lies"

She simultaneously tackled Sofia Coppola's drama thriller "The Beguiled" (2017) with Colin Farrell, Elle Fanning, and Kirsten Dunst, and the sci-fi romantic comedy "How to Talk to Girls at Parties," and Yorgos Lanthimos's psychological thriller "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," reuniting her with Colin Farrell.

In 2018, she joined the blockbuster action film Aquaman alongside Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, and Dolph Lundgren. She also filmed drama "The Vanished Boy" with Russell Crowe and took the lead in crime thriller "Destroyer."

Nicole Kidman on Ellen Show

Spring 2019 brought the premiere of "Big Little Lies" season two, with Nicole reprising her starring role.

In 2019 Nicole will appear in "The Goldfinch"

She also took a supporting role as Mrs. Barbour (the protagonist's friend's mother) in the adaptation of Donna Tartt's acclaimed novel "The Goldfinch," which premiered in October 2019. Ansel Elgort was cast in the leading role.

Philanthropy and Honors

While it's well-known that Nicole never pursued higher education, few realize it wasn't because of her rapidly growing career, but rather tragic family circumstances. In 1984, when Nicole was just 17, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The young actress decided to temporarily halt her work and studies, taking up massage so she could help her mother with physical therapy.

Her daughter's help and support, combined with progressive therapy, aided Janelle's recovery and rehabilitation, and Kidman later participated in various campaigns and community projects focused on breast cancer awareness. The actress also raised money for disadvantaged children worldwide and for foundations that fight domestic violence.

In 2006 Kidman was appointed goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and in 2009 she appeared in a series of postage stamps featuring Australian actors.

Nicole Kidman's Personal Life

In the 1980s Nicole was involved with an Australian actor Marcus Graham, but the couple broke up in December 1989, when she met Tom Cruise while filming "Days of Thunder". After meeting this short but handsome man, the 23-year-old starlet felt self-conscious, realizing she'd never be cast as his love interest because of their height difference. But Cruise was captivated by this red-haired beauty at first sight and insisted the director cast her.

Their relationship developed rapidly: Tom Cruise divorced his then-wife Mimi Rogers, and on December 24, 1990, the 28-year-old Hollywood hunk and the 23-year-old starlet tied the knot.

If you lived through the '90s, you probably remember that the Cruise-Kidman couple was synonymous with a strong marriage, trust, and the genuine unity of soulmates. The husband and wife even joked that they could never tell where one ended and the other began, and when Tom had to spend 12 days away from Nicole, he claimed it was living hell for him.

The one thing that cast a shadow over their marriage was the absence of children, which the couple desperately wanted. After several failed attempts to conceive, Tom and Nicole decided to adopt. The couple adopted a daughter, Isabella Jane on December 22, 1992, and a son, Connor Anthony on January 18, 1995. Later Nicole admitted that she had no idea why she'd decided to start a family so young: "I had two kids and was married for four years by the time I was 27. Although, that's exactly what I wanted".

Although the couple looked happy in photographs and nothing hinted at trouble, Cruise filed for divorce in February 2001 without properly explaining his reasons. The official reason for the split was irreconcilable differences, but it could have been Tom's jealousy or Kidman's unwillingness to join Scientology – Tom's religion.

The couple didn't know that Nicole was in the early stages of pregnancy at this point, but due to constant stress from the divorce, she had a miscarriage.

The entire country followed the couple's divorce. Tom and Nicole received joint custody of Isabella Jane and Connor Anthony, although the kids spent most of their time with their father and later joined the Church of Scientology. Right after the divorce was finalized, Tom Cruise began dating his "Vanilla Sky" co-star, Penélope Cruz.

After her breakup with Tom Cruise, Nicole had several brief relationships with various Hollywood men: she briefly dated an actor Tobey Maguire, a British musician Robbie Williams and a rock-star Lenny Kravitz. She met Keith Urban in January 2005, and they married on June 25, 2006.

The actress later revealed that their relationship moved quite quickly: "We didn't really know each other – we got to know each other during our marriage". On July 7, 2008, Nicole's dream came true when she gave birth to a baby girl named Sunday Rose Kidman-Urban. On December 28, 2010, the couple welcomed another baby – Faith Margaret via surrogacy.

Nicole Kidman Today

According to the actress, she's thrilled with how her career is going right now and couldn't be happier with her family life.

In 2019, Nicole Kidman starred in 3 films: "Boy Erased", "Destroyer" and "Bombshell". In 2020, the actress was filming the series "The Undoing", which was set to premiere.

Nicole Kidman: latest news and articles

Two reasons why Nicole Kidman became `Woman of the Year` according to Time

21 Feb 2025

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

Photos: Nicole Kidman