Nicole Kidman, born June 20th, ’67 in Honolulu, is an Australian actress and singer who scooped an Oscar for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in the film “The Hours.”
This beauty has a host of outstanding roles to her credit, but her magical transformation into the legendary writer in “The Hours” has gone down in cinema history. The Academy nearly threw the statue straight into her arms.
And for those who prefer specifics – on January 13, 2003, Nicole received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at number 6801 on the boulevard. It’s the cherry on top of her incredible career.
And thus, Nicole Kidman has inscribed herself in golden letters in the history of the dream factory. It’s interesting to see what else this talented Aussie is capable of on the big screen!
BIOGRAPHY
Early Years
Nicole was born in 1967 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, Anthony David, an Australian with Scottish roots, was conducting cancer research there. Her mother, Janelle Ann, an Irishwoman, taught nursing. Nicole also has a younger sister, Antonia, who followed in her father’s footsteps and became a presenter of gossip news on Australian television.
Until the age of four, young Nicole lived in the States with her parents. Then the family returned to Sydney, Australia. As a three-year-old, she began taking ballet and acting lessons. She studied at several youth theatre schools but dropped out of regular high school when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, her mother recovered, and Nicole was able to continue honing her acting craft.
Career
Nicole’s acting career began at the age of 14 when she played the lead role in the film “Bush Christmas.” Earlier, she had taken her first steps on the boards of street theatre. In the 80s, she appeared in many Australian productions – films and series. Her performances in “BMX Bandits” and “Bangkok Hilton” are particularly memorable.
A turning point was the lead role in “Dead Calm” in 1989. After that came a performance alongside Tom Cruise in the action hit “Days of Thunder.” She also acted with Bruce Willis and Dustin Hoffman in “Billy Bathgate” and with Ron Howard in “Far and Away.”
In the meantime, she embodied Dr. Harleen Quinzel in the box-office hit “Batman Forever.” Her performances remain unforgettable in “The Portrait of a Lady,” with Kubrick in “Eyes Wide Shut,” and as one of two witch-sisters in “Practical Magic” from 1999.
Another breakthrough for Nicole was the musical “Moulin Rouge!” in 2001. For her exquisite portrayal of Satine, she received praise and an Oscar nomination. That same year, she also participated in the critically acclaimed drama “The Others.”
Unfortunately, she sustained a knee injury on the set of “Moulin Rouge!” and had to resign from the role in “Panic Room,” where she was replaced by Jodie Foster. But she wasn’t disheartened because the following year she snagged the coveted Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of Virginia Woolf in “The Hours.”
In 2001, Nicole debuted as a singer. She recorded the song “Come What May” with Ewan McGregor for the soundtrack of “Moulin Rouge!” The single entered the charts in the UK. Later, she also sang a cover of “Somethin’ Stupid” with Robbie Williams, which conquered Britain and Australia. Today, she is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world and enjoys significant popularity.
In 2004, she appeared in the remake of “The Stepford Wives” alongside such stars as Glenn Close, Faith Hill, and Bette Midler. Then in 2013, she served on the jury of the main competition at the Cannes Festival.
PRIVATE LIFE
Nicole met her first husband, Tom Cruise, on the set of “Days of Thunder.” Their wedding took place in secret, on December 24, 1990, in Colorado. Information about the ceremony was kept confidential. Together with Tom, they adopted two children – daughter Isabella (b. 1992) and son Connor Antony (b. 1995). During their marriage, they lived in LA, Australia, Colorado, and New York, but they divorced in 2001.
In an interview with “Vanity Fair,” Nicole confessed that she had unsuccessfully tried to have her own child – she miscarried twice. On June 25, 2006, she remarried – to country musician Keith Urban. They have two daughters together – Sunday Rose (b. 2008) and Faith Margaret (b. 2010), who was born to a surrogate mother.
Nicole declares herself a Catholic.