Our hearts go out to Kidman and the rest of her family during this difficult time.
Nicole Kidman’s mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has passed away. The news reached Kidman while she was attending the Venice Film Festival, where she was set to receive a Best Actress award for her performance in Babygirl. Upon hearing the news, Kidman left the festival abruptly, unable to deliver her acceptance speech.
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She had written a statement before she left on Saturday (September 7). The film’s director, Halina Reijn, shared Kidman’s heartfelt message to the audience.
Describing her mother as “beautiful and brave,” Kidman started her statement off by saying she was “in shock.”
The director proceeded to read Kidman’s message, saying, “She shaped me, she guided me, and she made me. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking, and my heart is broken.”
Kidman then dedicated the award to her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman.
Reijn, after sharing Kidman’s words, offered a simple message of love and support to Kidman from the festival attendees:
“We love you all, Nicole.”
A representative for Kidman confirmed to PEOPLE that “the family is heartbroken and asks for privacy at this time.”
Nicole’s mother, a former nursing instructor, had been dealing with health challenges in recent years. In 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the actress revealed that she traveled back to her homeland, Australia, to be with her mother.
She mentioned in an NPR interview, “We’re down here primarily to take care of my mother and to have her surrounded by her grandchildren.”
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Janelle Kidman’s cause of death has not been revealed yet to the public.
As of now, neither Kidman nor her husband, Keith Urban, have made any public statements on social media regarding the loss. We are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.