A moment of triumph became a moment of sadness for Aussie actress Nicole Kidman, who had to leave the Venice Film Festival early upon hearing of the death of her mother.
The actress came out on top, winning the Best Actress award for her role as a CEO who has an affair with the intern in Babygirl, but was unable to be there to accept the award.
Instead, the film’s director Halina Reijn read out a letter on her behalf, relaying that Kidman had arrived at the festival, only 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. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina,” Reijn relayed Kidman’s statement.
“The collision of life and art is heartbreaking, and my heart is broken.”
Reijn added after reading the letter, “We love you all, Nicole.”
A representative for Kidman added: tThe family is heartbroken and asks for privacy at this time.”
The 57-year-old was close to her mother, previously speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald about how Janelle encouraged her to achieve her goals.
“She’s given me the fire to pursue the career I have because I’ve always wanted to please her,” she said in a 2020 interview, Hollywood Reporter. “But she also carved her own path and wanted her daughters to have the same opportunity to carve their own path.
“Mum didn’t necessarily get the career that she wanted, but she was determined that her daughters would have opportunities that were equal,” the actress added.
“That’s given me my life. And she gave me my life, she and my dad.”
