Nicole Kidman’s life has been full of success and personal sacrifice. As a teenager, she cared for her mother, but she missed some important moments in her family’s life. This shows a different side of her story.
While she is known for her amazing performances and is one of Hollywood’s top actresses, Nicole Kidman recently experienced a deep personal loss.
On September 7, 2024, Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress award at the 81st Venice Film Festival for her role in the film “Babygirl.” However, the excitement of this big win was overshadowed by tragic news that made her leave Venice just as the ceremony was starting.
Nicole Kidman missed a major award ceremony after experiencing a devastating loss.
She had traveled to Venice for the awards, but the sudden death of her beloved mother, Janelle Anne Kidman, meant she couldn’t stay to accept the award in person. Instead, the film’s director, Halina Reijn, took the stage to deliver Nicole’s remarks, reading from a statement she had prepared.
Nicole Kidman shared her grief with the audience, saying, “Today, I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after that my brave and beautiful mother, Janelle Anne Kidman, had just passed. I’m in shock and need to be with my family, but this award is for her.” Her heartfelt words touched many, revealing the deep impact her mother had on her life.
In her emotional statement, Nicole Kidman spoke about the deep impact her mother had on her life, saying, “She shaped me, she guided me, and she made me. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking. My heart is broken.” Her words captured the bittersweet nature of experiencing a professional triumph amid personal tragedy.
Janelle Kidman, 84, was a nursing instructor and a devoted member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, an Australian feminist group. Her dedication to her work and her strong influence on Nicole’s values and worldview were evident throughout the actress’s life.
Nicole Kidman’s bond with her mother grew even stronger through years of personal caregiving. At just 17, Nicole took a break from her rising acting career to care for Janelle during a crucial period in her life.
The Golden Globe winner even took a massage course to help with her mother’s rehabilitation, showing just how dedicated she was to her family.
Growing up, Nicole Kidman saw her mother face serious health challenges, which deeply affected her. As she grew older, Nicole became more involved in raising awareness for women’s health issues, using her own experiences and pain to support advocacy efforts.
Nicole Kidman once spoke about how watching her mother battle breast cancer as a teenager had a profound impact on her. She said, “I have seen my mother go through it. I think that has had an effect on me. I was in my late teens, and that experience has left a mark on me in a way I will never forget,” during a breast cancer awareness campaign.
Janelle’s health journey had a significant impact on the entire family, leading Nicole to maintain a constant sense of vigilance into her adulthood. Nicole explained, “With my mother, it’s every year. Once it has affected your life, you stay vigilant. You have to keep getting checked, and eventually, your whole family is affected by it.”
Nicole’s deep connection with her mother was clear in all aspects of her life. Their bond went beyond shared experiences to include the sacrifices Nicole made, many of which often went unnoticed. This profound relationship is why Nicole missed celebrating her mother’s birthday and Mother’s Day.
Despite her busy schedule, the 57-year-old star always made her family a priority, especially during tough times. In 2020, the global pandemic created an unprecedented separation, making Nicole and many others yearn for the comfort and closeness of family.
As the world went into lockdown, the “Moulin Rouge” star couldn’t visit her mother in Australia, which was especially difficult during important family moments like Mother’s Day and Janelle’s 80th birthday.
Nicole expressed her deep longing by saying, “I would love to be able to have a cup of tea with mum, sit on the balcony, talk about life, and have her tell me what I should be doing.”
The distance was painful for Nicole, as she missed these precious moments with her mother. Reflecting on the lockdown challenges, she said, “It was gut-wrenching. At least we had FaceTime and technology, which was a saving grace. But not having that physical connection has been really hard for our family.”
Even during these challenging times, the “Far and Away” star found comfort in small connections through technology. She frequently FaceTimed her mother, who, although initially hesitant about video calls, eventually embraced them.
Nicole fondly remembered helping her mom find the best angles for video calls and laughed about Janelle’s resistance to Zoom. “She’s like, ‘No, no Zoom,’” Nicole joked, reflecting on the light-hearted moments that helped them stay close despite the distance.
The bond between Nicole and her mother was deeply rooted in both family ties and shared passions. Janelle played a crucial role in shaping Nicole’s ambitions, always encouraging her and her sister, Antonia Kidman, to follow their own paths. Nicole shared, “She’s given me the fire to pursue the career I have because I’ve always wanted to please her.”
Janelle’s influence went beyond words, motivating Nicole to excel and ensuring that her daughters had opportunities she herself did not. Nicole noted, “Mum didn’t necessarily get the career she wanted, but she was determined that her daughters would have equal opportunities. That’s given me my life. She and my dad gave me my life.”
When Janelle’s health declined in early 2022, Nicole immediately returned to Australia to be with her. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Nicole made sure her mother was surrounded by love and the people who mattered most, including her grandchildren.
Reflecting on this period, the “Aquaman” star shared a special memory: “We were able to take her into the gallery after hours and show her the Matisse exhibit. For a mother who raised me with a love for the arts, it was very, very soothing and comforting.”
Nicole emphasized how her mother’s passion for fashion greatly influenced her own style, saying, “And my mother is still—she’s so involved in what I wear.” Janelle’s keen eye for detail and style remained a guiding force, with her continuing to help with Nicole’s wardrobe choices almost until the end.
Throughout her life, Janelle was more than just a mother to Nicole; she was a source of inspiration, a confidante, and a constant presence who played a crucial role in shaping the person Nicole became.
Despite the physical distance and the challenges it brought, Nicole Kidman’s bond with her mother never wavered. Their relationship, marked by moments of shared laughter and quiet support, stands as a testament to the enduring power of family.
This Girl Became a Successful Child Star after Bio Parents Gave Her up to Family Who Had ‘No Plans’ to Adopt
When she was a newborn, his celebrity’s biological parents placed her for adoption.
Because their occupations meant more to them than raising a child, the star’s birth parents didn’t want her when she was born.
Up until the truth was revealed, the actress’ adoptive parents had been lying about her background.
The French Hospital in Los Angeles, which is now defunct, was the hospital where the future celebrity was born on May 8, 1964. The actress was adopted by Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert, who took her in when she was just 24 hours old.
Jonathan, her younger brother, was also adopted by the couple. Barbara was a twentysomething actress whose career was cut short, and Paul was a stand-up comedian, actor, and dancer who began as an aerialist with a family circus from Buenos Aires. Barbara and Paul parted ways when the young child was six years old, but his daughter remembered him with affection, saying:
“I have never known a more brilliant, energetic, humorous, loving, and fair person than my father.”
When Paul passed away in 1976, many believed he had suffered a stroke while in bed. Her adoption was made public. The celebrity claimed in her book “Prairie Tale: A Memoir” that she was informed when she was a young kid that her father, David Darlington, had been a Rhodes Scholar and that her biological mother, Kathy Wood, was a prima ballerina.
Her birth parents reportedly had no desire to give up their occupations in order to raise her, according to her adopted parents. The timing of the celebrity’s birth was allegedly incorrect, and as a result, they had to give up their daughter because her father was in the middle of a project.
She learned the whole truth about her biological parents when she was old enough. Although not a prima ballerina, her birth mother was a dancer, and David was a stock car racer and sign painter.
Kathy and David had three children between them when they were first married to other people. After running away, becoming pregnant, and moving in with their kids, the couple realized they couldn’t support a seventh child.
Parents Who Adopted Her Didn’t Want Her
The actress was stunned to learn more about her adoption after the death of her adopted father. Mitzi, her godmother, talked about the day she was picked up from the hospital by her adoptive parents.
She acknowledged that when the Gilberts returned with their new baby, it came as a shock. This astonished the actress, who looked to Barbara, along with other family members, and she confessed:
“Well, we weren’t planning on adopting a kid.”
When Barbara and her husband received a call informing them that the little girl will be available, they replied they weren’t seeking for a kid. When the celebrity’s adoptive mother phoned her out-of-state spouse, he instructed her to “go get it.”
She said to the journalist that she wouldn’t subject her kids to the burden of such a dark secret.
She was taken aback to hear herself referred to as a “it,” but Barbara clarified that she hadn’t even been born yet. Later, after learning of her upcoming arrival, Barbara revealed to her that they had been attempting to conceive.
Barbara claims that although the Gilberts were undergoing fertility treatments, they had not brought up the subject of adoption until they got the call. The actress discussed the secrecy of her adoptive family in an interview from July 2020.
The Secrets of the Family
The famous person disclosed to “CBS Sunday Morning” that she learned at the age of 11 that her father had passed away due to a stroke. But she found out at 45 that he had committed suicide.
The actress concealed the secret from everyone in her life, even herself. She informed the interviewer that she would never subject her children to the harm that such deep secrets do to families.
To learn the truth about what had happened to her adopted father, the actress engaged a detective. The detective learned that the deceased World War II veteran had threatened to take his own life while receiving care from the VA and was in excruciating pain.
She fought the anguish of losing her father in this way for approximately six months after learning the truth about Paul. During that time, she was unable to eat or sleep. She has since come to terms with it, though, and now works to preserve his memory by supporting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
On January 23, 1982, an actress was spotted in Santa Monica at the Santa Monica Bowling Alley | Source: Getty Images
The actress also accepted and forgave Barbara for her decision to conceal the truth, even though she had been angry and betrayed for a long time. The next chapter reveals the celebrity’s name and her current way of life.
Who Is the Star Who Got Abandoned and Went on to Become a Famous Actress?
Melissa Gilbert is the actress, best known for her role as Laura “Half-Pint” Ingalls Wilder on the adored television program “Little House on the Prairie,” which ran from 1974 to 1983. She published her memoir, “Back to the Prairie,” in July 2022, and she is currently spending time with her family.
The celebrity acknowledged that she is “blessed” and mentioned that she is in a different place from her deceased adoptive father. She wants Paul to have felt the happiness that comes with having grandkids and the value of having a life partner who makes you feel listened, safe, and loved.
Timothy Busfield, Melissa’s third husband, and she became grandparents to a total of eight grandchildren in May 2022. While going through his second divorce, Busfield observed the actress waiting for a buddy at an empty pub in 2012.
On June 20, 2023, in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Melissa Gilbert and her spouse Timothy Busfield attended a photocall for the 62nd Monte Carlo TV Festival | Getty Images
In April 2013, the pair got married in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, with Melissa donning a dress by Morgane Le Faye. When Barbara’s daughter couldn’t determine what she wanted, Barbara suggested the brand’s Santa Monica store.
She disclosed in her book “Back to the Prairie” that Busfield, dressed in a blue suit, was alone at the private event; no guests were present. After nearly a lifetime in Hollywood, the famous person had her first kid, a son named Dakota Paul Brinkman, from her first marriage to the actor Bo Brinkman.
Michael Garrett Boxleitner is Melissa’s second child, born after her marriage to Bruce Boxleitner. Along with being a father, Busfield raised three children: Wilson, Daisy, and Samuel. He and his wife currently reside peacefully in a 14-acre cottage in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
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