After her mother’s passing in September 2024, Nicole Kidman embarked on a project far from the Hollywood cameras. The actress revealed her desire to train to become a thanadoula and accompany the dying in their final moments.
Each person has their own way of grieving. She had missed the Venice International Film Festival after her mother’s death in September 2024. Nicole Kidman had even won a Volpi Cup for her role in “Babygirl.” It was the director, Halina Reijin, who took the stage that night to read a letter from the actress to the audience: “I arrived in Venice today to learn shortly after the death of my beautiful, courageous mother, Janelle Ann Kidman. I am devastated and must go to my family, but I dedicate this award to her. She shaped me, guided me, and made me.”
On April 11, 2026, Nicole Kidman was present at the University of San Francisco with journalist Vicky Nguyen when she announced her intention to become a thanadoula, alongside her acting career. The actress acknowledged that this shift may seem “a bit strange,” but she explained that the loss of her mother had motivated this decision.
It is a very particular career choice. Thanadoulas accompany the dying and are there for their loved ones when life departs. This practice dates back to ancient Greece, as evidenced by its name.
Nicole Kidman clearly explains her choice: “When my mother passed away, she was alone, and we could have done so much more as a family. Between my sisters and me, we have so many children, demanding careers, and we wanted to take care of her since our father was no longer in this world. That’s when I thought I would have liked for people to be there and provide the necessary care.”
This non-medical profession appears to the actress as a way to grieve, and she announced her intention to delve into learning this practice very soon.
