Nicole Kidman has opened up about her ongoing journey of grief following the loss of both her parents. In a heartfelt interview with GQ published on November 18, the 57-year-old actress shared her emotional struggles since the passing of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, in September.
Reflecting on the profound impact of her parents’ deaths, Nicole discussed the personal toll it has taken on her, particularly as she navigates life as a mother to two teenagers.
Despite the overwhelming sorrow, Kidman expressed her commitment to staying present and fully embracing the complex emotions that come with loss, motherhood, and the passage of time.
Coping with Grief and the Loss of Her Mother
Nicole Kidman opened up about the emotional toll of losing her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, in September, revealing that her grief is a constant presence in her life. “So life is, whew. It’s definitely a journey. And it hits you as you get older,” she shared in her interview with GQ.
“It’s a wake up at 3 a.m. crying and gasping kind of thing.” Despite the intense sorrow, Nicole expressed that she is allowing herself to fully experience the pain, saying, “If you’re in it and not numbing yourself to it. And I’m in it. Fully in it.”
As she reflects on the complexities of life and loss, Nicole explained that her emotions about mortality and connections are even more heightened now that she is raising her daughters. “Mortality. Connection. Life coming and hitting you,” she said, adding that these themes are intertwined with her experience of losing both parents and navigating her own family life.
“And loss of parents and raising children and marriage and all of the things that go into making you a fully sentient human. I’m in all of those places.”
Remembering Her Mother as a Guiding Light
In a separate conversation with Vanity Fair, Nicole spoke fondly of her late mother and the role she played in shaping her worldview.
“She was my compass in a way,” Nicole shared, describing the profound impact her mother had on her life. Losing her mother has been devastating, yet Nicole finds strength in her memory, adding, “It’s like losing that, but at the same time going, ‘Okay, well, this is for her then.'”
Nicole also reflected on her mother’s influence on her and her sister’s lives, particularly in terms of their ability to express themselves.
“So much of what she wanted for my sister and I was to create women in this world who felt like they could express themselves and have opportunities, especially things she didn’t have from her generation.” Despite the heartache, Nicole takes solace in knowing that her mother’s legacy lives on through her and her sister’s work.
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