'My heart is broken': Babygirl star Nicole Kidman misses Venice Film Festival awards ceremony due to sudden death of her mother

Nicole Kidman recently attended the premiere of her upcoming erotic thriller Babygirl at the Venice Film Festival. However, the actress had to leave the event early after learning that her beloved mother Janelle Ann Kidman had sadly passed away.

Kidman, who plays the role of businesswoman Romy, won the Best Actress award at the ceremony for her performance in the film. However, she was unable to accept the award in person after receiving the devastating news of her mother's death and left the event shortly after her performance at the festival.

According to Variety, Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress award for her role in Babygirl at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 7. However, due to the tragic death of her mother, the actress was unable to accept the award in person.

During the awards ceremony, after Kidman's name was announced as the winner, the film's director, Halina Reijn, took the stage and read a statement on her behalf confirming the news of her mother's death.

According to the source, Reijn read Kidman's message on her behalf, which said the actress arrived in Venice and shortly after learned of the death of her “brave and beautiful” mother, Janelle Anne Kidman.

The director continued to read her statement in which the actress expressed her sadness: “I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me, she guided me and she created me.”

Kidman’s statement ended with the words: “I am extremely grateful to have been able to [mother] I want to announce my name to all of you through Halina. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking and my heart is broken.”

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In a previous interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Nicole Kidman spoke about her relationship with her late mother. Kidman shared that she gave her the drive and “fire” to pursue her career as she always wanted to make her proud. She also stressed that her mother paved her way and wanted her daughters to have the same opportunity to do so.

The actress mentioned that her mother did not have the career she had hoped for, but she was “determined” that her daughters had the same opportunities, saying, “That gave me my life. And she gave me my life, her and my father.”

Meanwhile, her film Babygirl will be released in theaters on December 25, 2024.