"My heart is broken," Nicole Kidman said in a heartfelt statement that was read out by Halina Rejin, the director of "Babygirl," on her behalf. The statement was sent just a few hours after Kidman learned of the unexpected demise of her cherished mother, Janelle.
"She molded me, she directed me, and she was the one who created me. It is an incredible privilege for me to be able to introduce her to each and every one of you through Halina. It is heartbreaking to see art and life collide with one another," she added.
As the actress was returning to the Venice Film Festival to accept an award for best actress, she was on a press tour promoting "The Perfect Couple" and "Babygirl." It was around this time that she learned the tragic news that her mother had passed away at the age of 84.
"There is little solace in the fact that Nicole's entire family has been preparing for this moment, but it is not a comfort to her. It has awakened all those awful emotions from when she lost her fathers so quickly and early," a friend of the actress said. "She is extremely sad, and it has triggered all those dark emotions."
Antonia, Nicole's sister, is the only one who truly understands how she is feeling, and this has pulled them even closer together. However, there is a clear indication that Nic's eyes have lost their light.
"She is filled with remorse that she was not present for her final moments, despite the fact that her mother was the one who made her promise that she would never let her be the reason she misses movies," an unnamed source told Woman's Day Australia.
The previous week, Nicole, who is 57 years old, hurriedly returned home to be with her extended family, which included her sister Antonia, who is 54 years old. Antonia, together with her daughter Lucia, was observed placing flowers outside of Janelle's residence in North Sydney.
Keith Urban, Nicole's husband, has also been described as "an absolute rock" and "hasn't left her side over the years."
“Nic’s incredibly lucky to have him, and that their girls Sunday and Faith are old enough to make a big impact on getting her through this. The girls are being incredibly brave, answering calls and emails on behalf of their mum when she’s unable to,” the anonymous insider stated.
"She has received a great number of phone calls and texts from friends located all over the world. Throughout all of Nicole's major moments, Janelle was by her side. She was adored by all of the A-list celebrities, including John Travolta, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, and even Angelina Jolie," the undisclosed informant furthered.
Throughout her life, Nicole has maintained a strong and profound connection with her "mama," referring to her as "my mentor, my guide, and my nurturer."
This is when Janelle met Antony Kidman, who was also a student in the science department at the University of New South Wales. They got married in 1964 and went on to have two daughters, Nicole and Antonia. Janelle received her nursing training at the University of New South Wales.
It was Nicole's dogged determination and her deep-seated enthusiasm for the arts that contributed to her development into the formidable force that she is today. The drive to learn more about the human experience was something that she instilled in both of her daughters. Nicole expressed this in an interview with "The Sydney Morning Herald" in the year 2020.
"Mum did not get the career she wanted, but she was determined that her daughters would have opportunities that were equal," Nicole added. "Because of that, I found my life. And it was she, along with my father, who gave me my life.
After Nicole's father passed away in 2014 due to an unexpected heart attack, Janelle continued to fulfill the role of the matriarch that the family required, as per PEOPLE Magazine.
However, in the year 2022, Nicole disclosed that her mother was experiencing health problems. She stated to Fresh Air that her mother was still able to go out and about and that they continued to have their cherished conversations. Nicole's mother's departure will be extremely distressing for her.
"Naturally, it has caused her to reevaluate what she is doing. Now that Sunday and Faith are older [16 and 13] and require their mother's presence to guide them, she desires to be spending more time with them," a close pal of Nicole commented.
"Keith is always reminding her to take a step back, slow down, and smell the roses. She is aware that she is working too hard. Because of this, she now has a fresh viewpoint, and she is really contemplating taking a year off to concentrate on the things that are truly important to her," it added.
It is not that she requires further funds, accolades, or "dream roles," but rather that she requires family, and she is going to miss her mother very much. Inspiring and courageous, she has been a tremendous source of motivation. Sadly, Nicole has lost her closest companion.
Business Times has reached out to Nicole Kidman for comments.
