Nicole Kidman is going through one of the toughest times of her life. Her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has passed away at the age of 84, leaving the actress devastated. Although the public learned the news during the Venice Film Festival, it was a statement that Nicole asked to be read on her behalf that revealed what had happened.
Halina Rejn, the director she worked with on Babygirl, was in charge of delivering the message while accepting the Best Actress award on Nicole’s behalf. “Today I arrived in Venice and shortly after I learned that my beautiful and brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has passed away,” began the message, in which she indicated that she must spend these moments with her family.
Nicole Kidman and her mother had a very close relationship
Despite the pain, Nicole wanted to dedicate the award to her mother: “This award is for her. She shaped me, guided me and made me who I am. I am more than grateful to be able to say her name through Halina.” However, the cause of her death has not been revealed.
She was in poor health
Janelle’s death did not come as a surprise to those who followed the actress’ life closely. Janelle had been having some health problems in recent years, and in 2022, Nicole had returned to Australia, her native country, to take care of her in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
In an interview with NPR, the actress said they took advantage of that time together to enjoy special moments, such as a private visit to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where they were able to admire a Matisse exhibition: “My mother is giving me the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of an 81-year-old woman. It’s a beneficial thing, because she is still completely lucid.”
Nicole had publicly shared in 2022 that she was spending more time with her mother in Australia
Janelle, who worked as a nursing instructor, battled breast cancer when Nicole was 17. The experience left a deep mark on the actress, who declared in 1997 that watching her mother suffer had made her aware of mortality and human suffering. Since then, Nicole has been committed to fighting cancer, funding specialist centres alongside Tom Cruise, her then husband, and more recently with her current partner, singer Keith Urban.
Her mother’s death follows the loss of her father, Antony Kidman, in 2014. At the time, Nicole found support in her husband and daughters, who helped her cope with her grief. “I called Keith crying, and he dropped everything he was doing to come and get me,” she confessed in an interview.