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Nicole Kidman Honors Late Mother With Tearful Dedication at Palm Springs Film Festival: “I’m Still Grieving”
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Nicole Kidman paid a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, during an emotional acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Friday night. Receiving the International Star Award from Jamie Lee Curtis, Kidman took a moment to reflect on her loss and express gratitude to the film community.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to say: This is for my mom,” Kidman began, fighting back tears.
“This Award Is for You, Mama”
Kidman, who starred in the critically acclaimed film Babygirl, revealed that both her parents profoundly influenced her life and career.
“My whole career has been for my mom and my dad, and they’re not here now,” Kidman said. “But I still want to keep working and giving to the world because I love what I do, and I love you all. I’m so grateful for the privilege to be a part of this film community.”
Struggling to hold back her emotions, she added, “I’m sorry I’m crying. I didn’t want to do that, but I feel my mama right now, so this is for you, Mama.”
A Missed Opportunity in Venice
Kidman explained that she was unable to dedicate her Best Actress win at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival to her mother due to her sudden passing during the event.
“I’m still grieving my mom, and so I want to dedicate [this award to her], because I didn’t get to do it at the Venice Film Festival,” she shared. “I arrived in Venice, and she was gone. I got the call, and I had to leave immediately.”
Kidman asked Babygirl director Halina Reijn to accept her Venice award on her behalf. Reijn read Kidman’s prepared speech, in which the actress emotionally honored her mother:
“Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after that my beautiful, brave mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has just passed. I’m in shock, and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me, she guided me, and she made me.”
A Viral Red Carpet Moment with Ariana Grande
In addition to her emotional speech, Kidman also made headlines for a lighthearted moment on the red carpet with Ariana Grande. The Wicked star surprised Kidman by kneeling before her and kissing her hand, a gesture that quickly went viral on social media.
“I’ll Take the Pain”: Kidman Reflects on Loss
In a recent interview with W Magazine, Kidman opened up about the emotional toll of losing her mother.
“The more love and the more intimacy and closeness you have with a person, the more it’s going to hurt losing them. But I’ll take the pain,” she said.
Kidman also shared that her mother had a strong affinity for certain films in her career.
“She loved Rabbit Hole. She loved The Paperboy. She never saw Babygirl. She loved The Hours. She was tough, though, in her criticism. So I’m used to that, which is quite good,” Kidman noted.
With her Palm Springs win, Kidman continues to be recognized as one of Hollywood’s most enduring and versatile performers. Yet, even amidst her career highs, the actress is navigating the profound loss of her beloved mother, finding solace in her work and the community that has supported her for decades.
