The Hollywood star learned that her mother, Janelle, had died at the age of 84 during a major social event.
Nicole Kidman spoke candidly about the day she learned of her mother’s death. On Saturday, April 18, the 58-year-old actress spoke at a series of online lectures organized by the History Channel. She revealed that she learned of her mother’s death shortly before accepting the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024.
“I was about to go on stage when I found out my mother had died. I immediately went back to my hotel room in Venice, went to bed, and was completely devastated,” Nicole said.
She shared that at that moment she didn’t know how to live on.
She was such an important part of my life. The thought of being there with her terrified me. I remember getting on a boat on the canal and literally trying to find my way to the airport at night, and then turning around and realizing I couldn’t even do that,” she said. “And then I went back to bed and was alone. My husband wasn’t there. My children weren’t there. I went to receive an award. What should have been a wonderful event ended in tragedy. But that’s the contrast of life,” the star concluded.
Two years after her mother’s death, Kidman revealed that she plans to become a doula, who helps people who are dying.
In the years since that heartbreaking night, Nicole Kidman has gradually found a way to transform her grief into something meaningful. Her decision to train as a doula reflects a deeply personal desire to support others through life’s most vulnerable moments—something she once faced alone. By turning loss into compassion, she honors her mother’s memory not just in words, but through quiet, purposeful action—proving that even in profound sorrow, there can be a path toward healing, connection, and purpose.
