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A look back at Nicole Kidman’s career: From low-budget Australian movies to Hollywood fame

The actress’s latest movie, ‘Babygirl,’ is making waves as she celebrates one of the most successful, prolific, and highest-paid careers in the industry. Here’s how she broke free from Tom Cruise’s shadow to become one of the most esteemed figures in cinema

Carlos Megía

Jan 16, 2025 - 19:22CET

Having worked since the age of 16 in Australian series and movies, her role in the thriller 'Dead Calm' —where she portrayed a woman trapped at sea — served as her passport to the American film industry. It was also the proof that the producers of 'Days of Thunder' needed to give her a chance alongside the already established Tom Cruise. While the film itself was not well received by critics, the production marked the beginning of one of the most iconic couples of Hollywood in the 1990s.Sunset Boulevard (Corbis via Getty Images)

“I remember being so nervous and seeing Tom Cruise drive up in a Porsche. He got out of the car and walked through the door, and I was like, 'Ah!' My jaw dropped,” Kidman recalled of her first encounter with the man who, just a year after filming 'Days of Thunder,' would become her husband. Kidman was only 22 when she married the actor in a ceremony held on New Year's Eve 1990 in a cozy log cabin. They didn’t have a honeymoon due to Cruise’s demanding schedule, but the press at the time reported that Cruise gave her the best wedding gift: a new starring role alongside him in Ron Howard's 'Far and Away.'Vinnie Zuffante (Getty Images)

Kidman and Cruise adopted two children, Isabella and Connor, during their marriage, which was often scrutinized due to rumors about Tom's alleged homosexuality, Nicole's refusal to embrace Scientology, and claims of infidelities. Their eleven-year relationship, which was strained by Cruise’s demanding filming schedule, ended when the 'Top Gun' actor filed for divorce. Years later, Kidman revealed that she never felt worthy of the global fame she gained through her relationship with Cruise. “I felt I became a star only by association [...] I felt it was my job to put on a beautiful dress and to be seen and not heard,” she admitted.Patrick Riviere (Getty Images)

Their divorce was finalized the same week 'The Others,' directed by Alejandro Amenábar, was released. After years spent in the shadow of her ex-husband, Kidman proved her talent to those who had reduced her to just being “the girlfriend of” and emerged as a star in her own right. 'Moulin Rouge!' was a resounding success, 'People' magazine named her the most beautiful person on the planet, and the following year, she won her first and only Oscar to date (she has been nominated five times) for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours.' Kidman has managed to reconcile starring in glitzy Hollywood movies with her penchant for daring and risky roles in low-budget films, a balance that few others have achieved.Frank Micelotta (Getty Images)

The legendary film critic Roger Ebert once claimed that Nicole Kidman's fame and attractiveness had overshadowed her work, but predicted that, in time, she would gain greater respect: “Celebrity has clouded her image; if she were less glamorous, she would be more praised. Age will only be an asset to her.” In 2006, she reached another remarkable milestone: she ended Julia Roberts' five-year reign as the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, commanding up to $17 million per film. The best proof of her enduring validity and longevity is that, even today, she continues to charge an enviable fee. photo: MPTV.net

At 57, Nicole Kidman remains one of the actresses who knows best how to command the red carpet. Having cemented her status as a style icon over decades, the Australian actress demonstrates a perfect balance of elegance, classicism, and trend in every appearance. Recently, she’s embraced some of her boldest looks, dressed by Balenciaga, a label she has not only worn but also collaborated with for their fashion shows. Her stylistic archive boasts memorable designs from iconic designers and brands such as Giorgio Armani, Dior (including pieces from John Galliano's era), Chanel, Prada, and Jean-Paul Gaultier, who dressed her in a stunning black asymmetrical gown when she collected her Oscar in 2003.Aliah Anderson (Getty Images)

This year, Nicole Kidman celebrates 20 years of marriage to her second and inseparable husband, country singer Keith Urban. They tied the knot just six months after they started dating, in a ceremony in Sydney, and now have two daughters, Sunday and Faith, who are making their red carpet debut alongside their famous parents. Urban, who has battled addiction to alcohol and drugs and has undergone multiple stints in rehabilitation, credits his wife's unwavering support with saving his life. For her part, Kidman has said that her only regret is not meeting Urban sooner. "I wonder if we met when we were 25, then we could have had 10 [children]," she told 'People' magazine.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin (FilmMagic)

While actresses like Natalie Portman and Emma Stone have spoken out about the lack of female directors at award shows, Nicole Kidman has been one of the few stars to lead by example, actively becoming part of the solution rather than merely accepting applause. Since promising in 2017 to collaborate with a female director at least every 18 months, Kidman has now worked with 15 female directors across both film and television. The latest example is Halina Reijn, the Dutch director behind 'Babygirl.' Courtesy Everett Collection / Cordon Press

What stands out about Nicole Kidman's career is not only her remarkable consistency, but also how she has transformed her screen presence and role within the industry. Once celebrated for playing the object of a man's desire in films made by men and often for male audiences, Kidman has evolved into a figure whose projects are increasingly written and directed by women, aimed directly at a female audience. As novelist Jennifer Weiner recently wrote in an essay for 'The New York Times,' "Having come to prominence as an object of the male gaze, she now performs and creates for the female gaze."Patrick Riviere (Getty Images)

Nicole Kidman's best friend in the industry is another renowned Australian actress, Naomi Watts. The two met as teenagers while waiting to audition for a swimwear commercial in the 1980s. After the audition — spoiler alert, neither got the job — Watts realized she had missed the bus home, and Kidman kindly offered to share and pay for her cab fare, despite living in opposite parts of the city. The two went on to star together in the 1991 film 'Flirting,' and their friendship has remained strong ever since. Cate Blanchett has also publicly thanked Kidman for helping to open the doors of Hollywood to a host of Australian actresses.Christopher Polk/GG2025 (Penske Media via Getty Images)

Although her 180-centimeter height is no obstacle today in landing great roles, Nicole Kidman faced significant challenges early in her career. Several casting directors told her she was too tall to have a successful acting career in Hollywood. In fact, Kidman often lied about her height at auditions, subtracting several inches to at least get a chance to be seen. She was frequently teased — "People would say, 'How's the air up there?'" — and even Tom Cruise insisted she avoid wearing heels when they were together. Looking back, Kidman now sees those experiences as valuable lessons: "I tell my daughters, 'None of it matters. What does matter is how you allow other people to either say yes or no to you and whether you accept that.' That inner resilience as a human being, that's the superpower really, above all superpowers." Jacopo M. Raule (Getty Images for Miu Miu)

The actress was unable to fully enjoy her triumph as Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival last September for 'Babygirl,' as mere minutes after arriving in the city to collect the award, she was informed that her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, had passed away. Recently, at the Palm Springs ceremony in California, she tearfully reflected on the pivotal role her mother had played in her professional journey: "Thank you for giving me the chance to say, 'This is for my mom.' My whole career has been for my mom and my dad."Matt Winkelmeyer (Getty Images for Palm Springs In)

Last year alone, Nicole Kidman launched six different projects across both film and television, and her tireless work ethic has become something of a running joke in Hollywood. At the Golden Globe Awards, where she now holds 20 nominations, host Nikki Glaser addressed this with her signature sarcasm during her introductory monologue: “Thank you for working so hard, and thank you to Keith Urban for playing guitar around the house so much that she wants to leave and make 18 movies a year.” It’s no surprise that the American movie theater chain AMC chose her to star in a commercial, aimed at bringing audiences back to theaters after the coronavirus pandemic.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin (FilmMagic)