Life Hits You Hard’: Nicole Kidman Opens Up About Parenting Through Unimaginable Loss
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Nicole Kidman, one of the most celebrated actresses of our time, is no stranger to both the triumphs and trials of life. Recently, she has faced one of the most heart-wrenching challenges any parent can endure—the loss of both her parents. In an emotional reflection, Kidman shares her deeply personal journey of navigating grief while raising young children, offering a raw and poignant insight into her world.
Grieving Through the Storm
Anyone who has experienced loss knows that the depths of grief often strike when we least expect it. For Kidman, the small hours of the morning—when the world is quiet, and the mind is raw—are some of the most challenging. “Life is, whew,” she admits. “It’s definitely a journey. And it hits you as you get older how—it’s a wake-up at 3 a.m. crying and gasping kind of thing. If you’re in it and not numbing yourself to it. And I’m in it. Fully in it.”
Kidman’s grief is both deep and layered. In 2014, she lost her father, Antony, and this September, she faced the devastating death of her mother, Janelle. Her recent loss came at a time when her career was at an all-time high, having just won Best Actress honors at the Venice Film Festival for her role in Babygirl. Yet, despite the accolades, Kidman felt a profound emptiness. “It’s a hard road,” she reflects. “I’m hanging in there. Everything is great with work, but I wish my mama was here.”
The Circle of Life
The actress is no stranger to the reality of the “circle of life” that we all experience, but she acknowledges that no matter how much we understand about life’s natural flow, it’s impossible to rationalize away the pain of loss. “Life coming and hitting you,” Kidman says. “And loss of parents and raising children and marriage and all of the things that go into making you a fully sentient human. I’m in all of those places.”
As she navigates the heartbreaking reality of losing her parents, Kidman draws strength from her two daughters, Sunday Rose (16) and Faith Margaret (13), whom she raises with her husband, country music star Keith Urban. The act of being there for her children, despite her own pain, has helped her keep moving forward. The circle of life, Kidman realizes, continues with her children, and she embraces her role as their mother even more deeply.
A Mother’s Grief Through the Eyes of Her Daughters
Kidman shares a particularly touching moment when her youngest daughter, Faith, saw her crying over her father’s death and, unsure of how to process it, asked, “Mummy acting now?” The innocence of a child’s perspective captured a profound moment of grief, one that both broke and healed Kidman’s heart. “The little one was just so little that she didn’t know whether I was acting or not,” Kidman recalls. “She said, ‘Mummy acting now?’ And the older one was like, ‘No, mummy not acting now.’ But the older one was like, ‘You won’t be sad in the morning?’ Because they don’t want a house full of sadness. Who does?”
Kidman’s daughters, still in their formative years, couldn’t fully understand the depths of grief their mother was experiencing, yet they instinctively sought to protect her—and themselves—from the overwhelming weight of sadness. In turn, Kidman did her best to shield them from the emotional toll while staying authentic in her mourning.
Pushing Through for Them
Despite the overwhelming grief, Kidman found solace in pushing forward—for her daughters’ sake. “Before you know it, you’re pushing through,” she says. “And by pushing through for them, you’re getting better. Because it goes on. That natural line of how it’s meant to go. The parents, then you, then the children. That’s the natural course.”
It is through this cycle of life—of loss and renewal—that Kidman finds her strength. As she moves forward, her family remains at the heart of her healing process. The loss of her parents may have left an indelible mark, but it is through her daughters that Kidman feels a sense of renewal and hope for the future.
Nicole Kidman’s courage to share her vulnerability with the world is a reminder that no matter how much fame or success we achieve, the human experience remains universal. Grief, love, and the passage of time are things we all face, and it is how we navigate them—with authenticity, strength, and the support of those we love—that defines us.
In this deeply personal chapter of her life, Nicole Kidman continues to inspire not only through her art but through her unwavering commitment to motherhood, love, and resilience.
