Nicole Kidman (1967- )

Nicole Kidman was born Nicole Mary Kidman on June 20, 1967 in Honolulu, Hawaii. For friends and family she goes by Nic. Her father is renowned Sydney psychologist, Anthony Kidman. Her sister is Australian television personality Antonia Kidman. Kidman eventually dropped out of high school to begin a full-time acting career. Her first film was at the age of sixteen when she landed a role in the Australian Holiday Film BUSH CHRISTMAS (1983).

Four years later Kidman won her first Australian Film Institute Award for the mini movie VIETNAM (1987). Two years later Kidman would make her U.S. debut in the at-sea thriller DEAD CALM (1989).

In 1996, Kidman wore a corset while filming THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY (1996) to take her waist down to 19". The physical demands of the role, however, landed Kidman bed-ridden for 2 weeks after filming as a result of emotional stress.

Nicole first met her former husband, Tom Cruise, on the set of 1990's DAYS OF THUNDER. The two were married the same year. They would reunite professionally for 1992's FAR AND AWAY. In 1999, the then married couple starred together in Stanley Kubrik's EYES WIDE SHUT (1999). The couple's on-screen roles prompted an increase in public speculation about their sex life. After a series of tabloid attacks, the couple successfully sued The Star for a story alleging that they needed a sex therapist to coach them through love scenes. In 2001 the two finally separated.

Kidman sang alongside Ewan McGregor in MOULIN ROUGE ! (2001). Her breathy voice also landed her a duet with Robbie Williams in a remake of the duet SOMETHING STUPID. While filming MOULIN ROUGE ! however, Nicole suffered a broken rib in rehearsing a dance routine, postponing production until she had fully recovered. Apparently it was worth waiting for her performance, in 2001 Kidman received her first Academy Award nomination for her superb performance in the blockbuster.

Nicole seems prone to playing characters named Grace. Her performance on "Saturday Night Live" in 1975 cast Kidman as a young girl named Grace. In 2001 Kidman starred as Grace in THE OTHERS. She would later play another Grace in the 2003 film DOGVILLE.

Kidman has acted with all 3 BATMANs; in 1993 she starred opposite 1995's BATMAN FOREVER's Michael Keaton in MY LIFE in 1992. She also starred alongside George Clooney in THE PEACEMAKER (1997) and with the latest Batman, Christian Bale, in PORTRAIT OF A LADY in 1996.

Nicole has been chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world in 1996, 1999, and 2002 . In 1999, Kidman was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance in THE BLUE ROOM.

Nicole is the first Australian actress to win the Best Actress Academy Award. Her Oscar came in 2002 for her performance as the famous author Virginia Woolf in THE HOURS, in which she was forced to teach herself how to write with her right hand so as to accurately portray the author. She was also voted the 5th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine - September 2002.

Nicole has been listed in "People Weekly's "Most Intriguing People" list in 1995 and again in 2001. Kidman was also E!'s "Celebrity of the Year" in 2001 and named Entertainment Weekly's "Entertainer of The Year" the same year. Moreover, in 2001 Nicole won her 2nd Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for MOULIN ROUGE!.

Nicole was ranked #31 in Premiere's 2003 annual "Power 100 List". The previous year she ranked #83.

On January 13, 2003 Kidman received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

As of 2004 Nicole is the Guinness World Record holder as the highest-paid television commercial actress. Her Chanel Number 5 ad is the most expensive ad to date, costing $11 million a minute at 3 minutes long.

Nicole is a tall woman at nearly 5' 11", she actually stood about 3 inches taller than ex- husband Tom Cruise and rarely wore heels when seen publicly with him so they could appear similar in height. Since their divorce, she is rarely seen on the red carpet without high heels, generally strolling in at around 6' 4".

In her free time Kidman enjoys writing short stories which she hopes to eventually publish.

Nicole Kidman's other notable credits include...