Nicole Kidman has embarked on a new career venture, sharing during a captivating conversation at the University of San Francisco's War Memorial Gym on Saturday, April 11th, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. As part of the esteemed Silk Speaker Series, she spoke to investigative journalist and USF graduate Vicky Nguyen, explaining that her idea, though "perhaps unconventional," originated from the loss of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, who passed away at the age of 84 in September 2024.
"As my mother drew her final breath, she was left with a profound sense of loneliness, for which the family's support could only do so much," Kidman revealed to the attentive audience. With four children of her own and her younger sister, Antonia Kidman, 55, having six children, she continued, "Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers to juggle, and with my father no longer in the world, it was then that I wished for the existence of individuals who could impartially offer solace and care during this trying time."
Death doulas, also known as end-of-life doulas, are individuals who provide invaluable support to individuals and their loved ones during their final days. According to the International End-of-Life Doula Association, "An end-of-life doula advocates for self-determination and imparts psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and practical care to empower dignity throughout the dying process."
Kidman has often spoken openly about the profound grief she experienced following the loss of both her mother and father, Dr. Antony Kidman, who passed away in 2014. A month after her mother's passing, Kidman described her as a "compass" and a "major guide" in her life, revealing that she would sometimes wake up "crying and gasping" from the dual loss of her parents.
She learned of her mother's death while attending the Venice Film Festival in preparation for her film Babygirl and left early to be with her family. At the time, the film's director, Halina Reijn, read a heartfelt letter on Kidman's behalf during what would have been her acceptance speech for best actress. In the letter, Kidman expressed her grief upon learning that "shortly after that, my beautiful, brave mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has just passed."
In March 2025, she paid a poignant tribute to her mother on what would have been her 85th birthday. "Missing Mumma and Papa so much on what would have been her birthday today," she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her parents smiling together, adding a red heart emoji. A year later, she again paid tribute, writing, "Remembering my Mumma on her birthday. Always in my heart."
