Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Nicole Kidman
How Nicole Kidman built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Nicole Kidman is a highly acclaimed and accomplished Australian-American actress and producer. She has been one of the highest-paid actresses since the late 1990s, demonstrating her consistent success and demand in the industry. Throughout her career, Kidman has received numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, six Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Volpi Cup, recognizing her exceptional talent and contributions to film and television.
2004: Face of Chanel No. 5
In 2004, Nicole Kidman became the face of Chanel No. 5 perfume, starring in a television and print campaign with Rodrigo Santoro, directed by Baz Luhrmann. She earned a reported $14.5 million between 2004 and 2005.
2005: Chanel No. 5 and Forbes List
In 2005, Nicole Kidman continued as the face of Chanel No. 5 and was featured as the 45th Most Powerful Celebrity on Forbes' Celebrity 100 List. She earned a reported $14.5 million between 2004 and 2005, and was the second highest-paid actress behind Julia Roberts, earning $16–17 million per film.
2006: Chanel No. 5 Campaign
In 2006, Nicole Kidman continued to star in the Chanel No. 5 advertising campaign. During this year, she also acted in two films: Fur, portraying Diane Arbus, and Happy Feet, which became her highest-grossing film at the time, grossing over $384 million worldwide.
2006: Roles in Fur and Happy Feet
In 2006, Nicole Kidman portrayed Diane Arbus in the biographical film Fur and voiced a character in the animated film Happy Feet, which grossed over $384 million worldwide, becoming her highest-grossing film at the time.
2007: Starring in The Invasion, Margot at the Wedding and The Golden Compass
In 2007, Nicole Kidman starred in The Invasion, Margot at the Wedding, which earned her a Satellite Award nomination, and The Golden Compass, which grossed over $370 million worldwide.
2008: Starring in Australia
In 2008, Nicole Kidman reunited with Baz Luhrmann for the film Australia, starring opposite Hugh Jackman. Although reviews were mixed, the film grossed over $211 million worldwide.
2008: Chanel No. 5 Campaign
In 2008, Nicole Kidman starred in television and print ads campaign with Rodrigo Santoro, directed by Baz Luhrmann, to promote the Chanel No. 5 fragrance for the last time.
2009: Appearance in Nine
In 2009, Nicole Kidman appeared in the musical Nine, performing the musical number "Unusual Way" alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. She earned her fourth Screen Actors Guild Award nomination as part of the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award for this film.
2012: Hemingway & Gellhorn, The Paperboy, and To the Lighthouse audiobook
In 2012, Nicole Kidman starred in the HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn, receiving her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She also starred in The Paperboy, competing at the Cannes Film Festival and earning her nominations. Her audiobook recording of Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse was also released this year.
April 2013: Cannes Film Festival Jury Member
In April 2013, Nicole Kidman was selected as a member of the main competition jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
2014: Starring in Grace of Monaco, The Railway Man, Before I Go to Sleep, and Paddington
In 2014, Nicole Kidman starred in Grace of Monaco, which opened at the Cannes Film Festival to negative reviews, The Railway Man, Before I Go to Sleep, and Paddington, where she played the main antagonist.
2015: Comments on Divorce and Career Focus
In 2015, Nicole Kidman said her divorce from Tom Cruise led her to focus her attention on her career, stating that "Out of my divorce came work that was applauded."
2015: Return to West End in Photograph 51
On November 21, 2015, Nicole Kidman's performance as Rosalind Franklin in Photograph 51 at the Noël Coward Theatre concluded, marking her return to the West End after 15 years. Her performance was met with considerable praise, and she later won an Evening Standard Theatre Award and received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for it.
2016: Role in Lion and Positive Reviews
In 2016, Nicole Kidman starred in Lion, receiving positive reviews and her first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film earned over $140 million globally.
2017: Pledged to Collaborate with Female Directors Every 18 Months
In 2017, Nicole Kidman pledged to collaborate with a female director every 18 months to address gender disparities in the film industry.
2017: Return to Television with Big Little Lies
In 2017, Nicole Kidman returned to television for Big Little Lies on HBO, also serving as executive producer. She won a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe for her performance.
2017: Roles in The Beguiled, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer
In 2017, Nicole Kidman starred in The Beguiled, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which also competed for the Palme d'Or. She also played supporting roles in Top of the Lake: China Girl and The Upside.
2018: Starring in Destroyer, Boy Erased, and Aquaman
In 2018, Nicole Kidman starred in Destroyer, Boy Erased, and Aquaman, which became her highest-grossing film to date, grossing over $1.1 billion worldwide. She also participated in a BAFTA event reflecting on her film career.
September 2019: The Goldfinch Release
In September 2019, Nicole Kidman appeared in The Goldfinch, an adaptation of the novel by Donna Tartt. While the movie received poor reviews, Kidman was commended for her performance.
2020: Starring in The Undoing and The Prom
In 2020, Nicole Kidman starred in the HBO miniseries The Undoing and the musical comedy The Prom. The Undoing became HBO's most-watched show of 2020, and Kidman received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her performance.
August 2021: Starring and Executive Producer in Nine Perfect Strangers
In August 2021, Nicole Kidman starred and served as executive producer on the Hulu drama series Nine Perfect Strangers, which is based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. Despite mixed reviews, the premiere of Nine Perfect Strangers became the most-watched Hulu original on its premiere day and continued to hold that title after five days on the service.
September 2021: Starred in AMC Theatres Commercial
In September 2021, Nicole Kidman starred in a commercial for AMC Theatres entitled "We Make Movies Better", which would play before every film in the theatres owned by the chain beginning that month. The commercial and Kidman's delivery of her speech proved popular, viewed as a way to drive moviegoers back to seeing films theatrically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2022: Appearance in Roar and Starring in The Northman
In April 2022, Nicole Kidman appeared in an episode of the anthology series Roar, based on Cecelia Ahern's 2018 short story collection, and also served as executive producer. That same month, she starred in the historical drama The Northman, which was received with widespread acclaim upon its release.
August 2022: Sponsorship with AMC Theatres Extended
In August 2022, Nicole Kidman's sponsorship with AMC Theatres was extended for another year, after the popularity of the commercial in which she starred. AMC's CEO Adam Aron described Kidman's viral ad as "iconic and revered".
December 2023: Reprising Role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
In December 2023, Nicole Kidman reprised the role of Queen Atlanna in the sequel to the 2018 superhero film Aquaman, titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
January 2024: Starring in Expats
In January 2024, Nicole Kidman starred in and served as executive producer of the drama television series Expats. Her performance garnered mixed reviews from critics.
June 2024: Starred in A Family Affair
In June 2024, Nicole Kidman reunited with Zac Efron in Netflix's A Family Affair. Although it received mixed reviews from critics, the film was well received by audiences.
September 2024: Starring in The Perfect Couple
In September 2024, Nicole Kidman starred in, and served as executive producer on the Netflix series The Perfect Couple, based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel. The series received mixed reviews from critics.
October 2024: Starred in the second season of Lioness
In October 2024, Nicole Kidman starred in the second season of the television series Lioness, and was executive producer. She earned a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her work on the show.
November 2024: Voiced Queen Ellsmere in Spellbound
In November 2024, Nicole Kidman voiced Queen Ellsmere in the animated fantasy film Spellbound. The film received mixed reviews.
February 2025: Worked with 19 Female Directors Over Eight Years
As of February 2025, Nicole Kidman has worked with 19 female directors, either in an acting or producing capacity, over the past eight years to champion gender equality in Hollywood.
February 2025: Interview with Time Magazine Reflecting on Career
In a February 2025 interview with Time, Nicole Kidman reflected on her career, emphasizing the importance of humility, continuous learning, and taking risks. She also highlighted her commitment to diverse stories and supporting female filmmakers.
March 2025: Portraying Nancy in Holland and Producing The Last Anniversary
In March 2025, Nicole Kidman portrayed Nancy, a teacher in Amazon's Holland directed by Mimi Cave, and executive produced The Last Anniversary, adapted from Liane Moriarty's novel.
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