Nicole Kidman Shares Late Mother’s Advice on Sunday Modeling
Nicole Kidman recently had a heartfelt conversation with her mother Janelle Ann Kidman regarding her teenage daughter, Sunday Rose, and the possibility of her pursuing a modeling career before the matriarch’s passing.
“As a mother, I’m just, like, ‘OK.’ My mother supported my passion when I was 14,” Nicole, 59, stated in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, published on Friday, July 31. She discussed Sunday, 18, who has recently made waves on multiple couture catwalks and fashion campaigns. “Actually, before my mumma passed, she was there, and I said, ‘Oh, should I let her? She wants to model.’”
Nicole revealed that her mom responded simply with, “Well, you did it.”
“I went, ‘OK,’” the Babygirl star continued. “That was sort of my mumma’s parting gift to Sunny was her encouragement for me to allow her to pursue her dreams and passions. That’s exactly what she said, ‘You kind of have to let her because I let you.’”
Nicole announced in September 2024 that her mother had passed away.
“Today I arrived in Venice only to learn shortly after that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed,” she stated in a speech read by Babygirl director Halina Reijn during a panel at the Venice International Film Festival. “I am in shock and need to be with my family, but this award is for her; she shaped me, guided me, and made me who I am.”
Her statement concluded, “I am immensely grateful to be able to say her name to all of you through Halina. The fusion of life and art is heart-wrenching, and my heart is broken.”
In addition to her Oscar-winning daughter, Janelle is survived by daughter Antonia, 56, and multiple grandchildren. (Nicole shares Sunday and Faith, 15, with ex-husband Keith Urban, as well as Bella, 33, and Connor, 31, with ex-husband Tom Cruise. Antonia, for her part, is a mother of six.)
Nicole attended the Venice Film Festival but left before her movie’s panel.
“I was about to go on stage when I found out that my mother had passed,” Nicole recounted to Variety in April, reflecting on the heartbreaking moment she learned the news. “I returned to my room in Venice, got into bed, and felt completely devastated. [I thought], ‘I’m not sure how I’m going to move forward or function now.’ She was such a crucial part of my life.”
According to Nicole, hastily trying to leave Italy to be with her family was “harrowing.”
“I remember getting into a boat in the canal, literally at night, trying to find my way to the airport, and then thinking, ‘I can’t even do this,’” she described. “So, I went back to bed. And I was alone. [Keith] wasn’t there, my children weren’t there. I was there to win an award, which should have been a beautiful experience. That highlighted the stark contrast of life.”
