Nicole Kidman pays tearful tribute to deceased mother: ‘This is for you’

Nicole Kidman paid an emotional tribute to her late mother Janelle Ann Kidman when she accepted the International Star Award at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Nicole, 57, accepted the award for her role in Baby girl on Friday, January 3, which was presented to her by Jamie Lee Curtis. In her speech, Kidman expressed her gratitude Baby girl director Halina Reijn and dedicated the award to her late mother, who she said was “still grieving.”

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say, ‘This is for my mother,’” Nicole said in her tearful acceptance speech. “My whole career has been for my mother and my father, who are not here now. I still continue to work and give to the world because I love what I do and I love all of you, and I am so grateful for the privilege of being part of the film community.

She added: ‘I’m sorry for crying, I didn’t mean to. But I feel my mother now, so this is for you.

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Janelle died in September 2024 at the age of 84. Nicole had left the Venice Film Festival early on September 7 to return to Australia when she heard of her mother’s death. At the time the Big little lies alum had won the best actress award at the film festival Baby girl. Reijn later read a statement on behalf of Nicole at the festival confirming her mother’s death.

“Today I arrived in Venice only to find out shortly afterwards that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed away,” Reijn, 38, read Nicole’s statement at the time. “I am 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.”

The statement continued: “I am extremely grateful to be able to say her name to all of you through Halina. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking and my heart is broken.”
Janelle is survived by daughters Nicole and Anthony54.

Janelle’s cause of death was not made public. “The family is heartbroken and requests privacy at this time,” said a spokesperson for Nicole We weekly at the time.

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Nicole and Antonia thanked friends and fans for their well wishes in a joint statement shared via Instagram on September 12.

“My sister and I, along with our family, would like to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” their statement read. “Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we can ever express. Thank you from our entire family for respecting our privacy while taking care of each other ❤️”