• Started learning skills focused on supporting and caring for people in the final stages of life
• The decision came after a personal experience that reshaped her view of care in critical moments

Nicole Kidman revealed a new and unconventional direction in her career, saying she has begun training to become a “death doula.”

Kidman, 58, made the remarks during a talk at the University of San Francisco, explaining that the idea may seem unusual to some, but it stemmed from a deeply personal experience following the death of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, in September 2024 at the age of 84.

In her conversation with journalist Vicky Nguyen, Kidman spoke candidly about her mother’s loneliness in her final days, despite the family’s efforts to support her.

She said that both she and her sister Antonia Kidman, due to their careers and children, found it difficult to provide full-time care, especially after the loss of their father.

She added: “I wished there were neutral people there, simply to offer comfort and support in moments like these,” describing this idea as the motivation behind her interest in the humanitarian field.

“Death doulas” are known as individuals who provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and their families during end-of-life stages, with a focus on preserving dignity and easing suffering.

The move comes after a difficult personal period for Kidman, who learned of her mother’s passing while attending the Venice Film Festival, where director Halina Reijn delivered a speech on her behalf during the awards ceremony.

Kidman has continued to express her grief, marking her mother’s birthday in March 2025 with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, and later renewing her remembrance a year on, writing that her mother will always remain in her heart.