Nicole Kidman has embarked on a remarkable journey in the film industry spanning four decades. Her extraordinary career has been celebrated as she prepares to receive the prestigious American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kidman’s acting career commenced at the tender age of 14, and she recently shared a poignant throwback video from her debut role in “Bush Christmas” (1983). The resemblance between her younger self and her now 13-year-old daughter, Faith, is striking.
Nicole’s breakout role in the United States came six years later in “Dead Calm” (1989). Since then, her career has been marked by an array of diverse and critically acclaimed performances.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to cinema, the American Film Institute bestowed upon Nicole Kidman the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, making her the first Australian actor to receive this honor. Her remarkable filmography includes collaborations with renowned directors such as Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Baz Luhrmann, Sydney Pollack, Aaron Sorkin, and Stanley Kubrick.
Kidman’s exceptional talent has earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in “The Hours” (2003). Additionally, she has received four Oscar nominations for her roles in “Moulin Rouge!” (2002), “Rabbit Hole” (2011), “Lion” (2017), and “Being the Ricardos” (2022). Her accolades also include a BAFTA Award, two Emmys, and six Golden Globes.
Reflecting on her extensive career, Nicole shared with People magazine how growing up in the spotlight has shaped her: “I started working at 14, and I’ve grown up on camera and in front of people, so that’s really exposing, but at the same time, it’s my path. I’ve shared my ups and downs with the world and also shared all of my work. That’s been my life…my children, my husband and my work.”
Revered director Baz Luhrmann, who collaborated with Kidman on “Moulin Rouge!”, praised her exceptional abilities: “You tend to find brilliant character actors, or you find someone who has star quality. What’s quite unique about Nicole is that she is both an amazing character actress — she completely absorbs into the character — but she burns so brightly as a star onscreen as well.”
“She has both qualities, and that’s pretty extraordinary. Because [“Moulin Rouge!”] was a musical, I needed her to do high comedy, almost slapstick like Katharine Hepburn. The scene inside the elephant shows her complete out-thereness, throwing her dress around and making funny noises. I didn’t specifically instruct her to do it. I just said, ‘How far can you go here?’ And she went there. And that’s really true of Nicole.”
The celebration of Nicole Kidman’s illustrious career will culminate at the AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute, a star-studded event scheduled for April 27 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Fans can anticipate the broadcast, which will air on TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) at a later date, marking yet another high point in Nicole’s remarkable journey through Hollywood.
