Nicole Kidman has been one of Hollywood’s biggest stars for over 35 years, known for her versatile roles, powerful performances, and strong influence on the film industry.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Sydney, Australia, she gained attention in the U.S. with her breakout role in “Dead Calm,” a 1989 Phillip Noyce thriller. This role proved to be a turning point in her life and opened the door to a wide range of memorable roles that followed.
After this, the 58-year-old actress received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Robert Benton’s gangster film “Billy Bathgate.” She starred as Drew Preston, the mistress, alongside Dustin Hoffman.
Over the course of her remarkable career, she has earned five Academy Award nominations, the very first one for portraying the lively cabaret singer Satine in “Moulin Rouge”!, released in 2001. After this, Kidman took home the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Stephen Daldry’s 2002 “The Hours.”
Her later nominations include Best Actress for “Rabbit Hole” and “Being the Ricardos”, as well as Best Supporting Actress for “Lion.” With twenty Golden Globe nominations and six wins spanning both TV and films, Nicole Kidman has become one of the most celebrated performers of her generation.
In recent years, she impressed TV viewers with her role as Celeste Wright in “Big Little Lies,” a woman dealing with domestic abuse. She also worked behind the scenes as an executive producer alongside Reese Witherspoon. Her work earned her two Emmy Awards: one for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and another as an Executive Producer for Outstanding Limited Series.
Check out some of Nicole Kidman’s best movies below and celebrate a career that has thrilled viewers.
Dead Calm 1989 (Rae Ingram)
Nicole Kidman made a major impact in the U.S with the 1989 horror-thriller “Dead Calm,” directed by Phillip Noyce. She played Rae Ingram, a brave wife facing danger at sea, showing her strong screen presence. The actress appeared alongside Billy Zane and Sam Neill.
In the film, following the tragic loss of their son, Rae and her husband John go on a long yacht trip. During their journey, they come across a sinking sailboat and rescue Hughie Warriner, the only person on board, who insists that the rest of the crew has died from food poisoning. The intense and emotional story earned praise from critics.
Moulin Rouge! 2001 (Satine)
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge! is widely regarded as a visually stunning and unforgettable movie. It received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and is remembered for its mix of tragedy and romance. Set in 1890s Paris, the film follows Christian (Ewan McGregor), a young writer who falls for Satine (Nicole Kidman), a Moulin Rouge dancer hiding a dangerous secret. For this role, the actress received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Eyes Wide Shut 1999 (Alice Harford)
In Stanley Kubrick’s last film, the actress delivers a fearless performance as Alice Harford, a New York housewife dealing with her desires and insecurities. When she confesses to her husband, Dr Bill Harford, played by Tom Cruise, that she has romantic fantasies about another man, he becomes drawn into a dangerous world.
Critics have said that the movie, which combines tension, intimacy, and psychological depth, features Stanley Kubrick’s classic style and also gave Nicole Kidman a chance to shine.
Flirting 1991 (Nicola)
Set in 1960s Australia, this sequel to “The Year My Voice Broke” tells the story of Danny, played by Noah Taylor, a shy teenage boy and Thandiwe Adjewa, played by Thandie Newton, a young African girl, as they fall in love while dealing with school life and social challenges. Nicole Kidman appears in this film in a small role as their classmate, Nicola.
The film was widely praised for its touching story and strong acting. Roger Ebert described it as a rare movie where characters are so engaging that viewers become deeply involved in their decisions and hopes for their outcome.
The Others 2001 (Grace Stewart)
In the same year she earned her first Oscar nomination for Moulin Rouge!, the actress gave a chilling performance in Alejandro Amenábar’s gothic thriller “The Others.” Set during World War II, Grace Stewart moves her family to the English coast to protect her children, who suffer from a rare sensitivity to sunlight.
As she anxiously waits for news of her missing husband, played by Christopher Eccleston, Grace’s life begins to fall apart when her daughter reports seeing ghosts. The movie has been praised for keeping viewers on edge with a surprising twist.
To Die For 1995 (Suzanne Stone)
Nicole Kidman rose to stardom with her role as Suzanne Stone in “To Die For.” She played the character of a small-town weather reporter with big dreams of becoming a news anchor. Feeling held back by her husband, played by Matt Dillon, she takes a dark turn and plots his murder with the help of a teenager, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film was praised for its smart and early take on the obsession with fame. Roger Ebert wrote, “Nicole Kidman’s work here is inspired. Her clothes, her makeup, her hair, her speech, her manner, even the way she carries herself (as if aware of the eyes of millions) are all brought to a perfect pitch.”
Paddington 2014 (Millicent Clyde)
Directed by Paul King, Paddington has been described as a fun and heartwarming film that delights both children and grown-ups.
After his house is destroyed by an earthquake, a kind and young bear named Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, travels to England. There, he is welcomed by the brown family: Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Samuel Joslin, and Madeleine Harris.) But trouble arises when a taxidermist named Millicent Clyde, played by Nicole Kidman, tries to catch him.
Lion 2016 (Sue Brierley)
Nicole Kidman delivers an Oscar-nominated performance in this 2016 film as Sue Brierley, the adoptive mother of a boy named Saroo, who sets out to find his lost family in India. The young version of the boy was played by Sunny Pawar, and the grown-up part was played by Dev Patel. The actress, through her performance, expresses powerful emotions and the pure joy of unconditional love.
Dogville 2003 (Grace Mulligan)
Directed by Lars von Trier, “Dogville” is a unique drama film that follows Grace Mulligan, played by Nicole Kidman, a woman hiding from her gangster father who seeks refuge in a small and struggling town. At first, the people of the town welcome her, but slowly their kindness turns into cruelty, pushing Grace to her limits. Right after winning an Oscar for “The Hours,” the actress took on this difficult role, showing courage and deep emotion.
The film has been widely praised as a powerful story about greed and cruelty, with Nicole Kidman giving an unforgettable performance.
Rabbit Hole 2010 (Becca Corbett)
In “Rabbit Hole,” directed by John Cameron Mitchell, the actress plays Becca Corbett, a mother struggling to move forward after the death of her young son. The movie explores how grief and sadness can change people as well as relationships, and the actress brings this to life with quiet honesty. It’s an Oscar-nominated role that reminds viewers of the strength it takes to heal after tragedy.
David Edelstein wrote in 2010, “The Kidman in ‘Rabbit Hole’ is a revelation. She has chosen, shrewdly, to underline two things: Becca’s righteous anger and the awareness that her anger isn’t going to take her very far.”
The Beguiled 2017 (Miss Martha Farnsworth)
During the American Civil War, a wounded Union soldier, Corporal McBurney, played by Colin Farrell, ends up at a girls’ school run by Miss Martha Farnsworth, played by Nicole Kidman. At first, it seems like he’s lucky to be rescued, but soon the tension grows as the women begin to compete for his attention, ultimately leading to serious trouble.
This new version of the 1971 film was praised for showing an old story from a woman’s point of view.
Practical Magic 1998 (Gillian Owens)
In this movie, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock play the roles of sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens, who come from a family of witches. Their family is under a curse: any man who loves one of the Owens women is doomed to die. Kidman’s role in the film is both daring and fragile. She mixes wild energy with moments of fear and tenderness.
Destroyer 2018 (Erin Bell)
In this Karyn Kusama-directed crime thriller film, detective Erin Bell, played by Nicole Kidman, goes after the leader of a gang she once joined undercover, hoping for justice and a second chance. The dark film was praised for the actress’s brilliant performance, showing many sides of her character.
Peter Bradshaw, a film critic, wrote, “I have to say I find Kidman’s performance superb: smart, committed, utterly absorbing.”
Babygirl 2024 (Romy Mathis)
In this film, Nicole Kidman portrays Romy Mathis, a successful CEO who jeopardizes her career and family by starting a passionate affair with her intern, Samuel, played by Harris Dickinson. Critics liked the acting of both Kidman and Dickinson, saying their strong performances made the movie more exciting and intense. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 76% rating.
Birth 2004 (Anna)
Jonathan Glazer’s suspenseful film “Birth” features a standout performance by Nicole Kidman. She plays the role of Anna, a widow who meets a young boy claiming to be the reincarnation of her late husband. The actress captures Anna’s mix of doubt, vulnerability, and longing to reconnect with lost love.
The film’s mysterious and unusual atmosphere could have been tricky to handle, but Kidman makes it convincing. She brings out the tension and emotional struggles of a widow, earning recognition from the Golden Globes.
