Nicole Kidman on Juggling Hollywood Stardom and Teenage Motherhood

When Nicole Kidman steps off a set and into a car, she’s not thinking about red carpets or next‑season scripts; she’s picturing her daughters waiting at home. The actress, who’s still one of the most sought‑after talents in Hollywood, says family has always been her north‑star, even when the spotlight burns bright.

In a recent chat with Extra, Kidman sat down with Lioness co‑star Zoe Saldaña and the two talked about the tight‑knit vibe on set. Saldaña described how the cast would spend downtime together—catching concerts, going horseback riding, even sharing a Thanksgiving feast. Yet, whenever the day wrapped, Kidman would say, “I’ve got to get home,” and she meant it.

“I go home to my family,” she told the reporter, chuckling that she now has a junior‑year senior and a freshman in the house. “Multitasking, right?” It’s a simple phrase, but it captures a juggling act that’s become the rhythm of her life ever since she and country star Keith Urban announced their separation in September 2025 and finalized their divorce earlier this year.

Kidman retained primary residential custody of the girls—Sunday, now 18, and Faith, 15—so the house is very much a Kidman‑run operation. She also remains a mother to Bella and Connor, her older children from her marriage to Tom Cruise, though they’re now grown and largely independent.

Even with the heavy workload of recent projects—movies like Babygirl and A Family Affair, plus TV series such as Expats, The Perfect Couple, and the spy drama Lioness—the actress says she never lets a day slip by without carving out quality time. “I’m a people‑pleaser, so I make sure I please the people who matter most,” she previously explained to TIME.

One of the family’s favorite rituals is a spontaneous “Bridesmaids” marathon. When the mood dips, the three of them pull the comedy into the kitchen, quote lines, and even act them out for a quick laugh‑therapy session. “It’s our go‑to savior film,” Kidman told People, noting how the movie lifts them from a funk.

She also spoke candidly to Harper’s Bazaar last October about the purpose motherhood gives her. “I’m their protector and guide,” she said, promising her daughters a safe place to grow, no matter the outside noise.

Mother’s Day this year marked Kidman’s first solo celebration after the split, and she shared a heartfelt Instagram post: a throw‑back snap of her giving both girls a piggy‑back ride, captioned, “To my beautiful girls, the greatest joy is being your mother.” The post resonated with fans, underscoring that, despite any headline‑making romance rumors—like a recent sighting with Michael Reinstein in a Ferrari—her daughters remain the center of her world.

Sunday, meanwhile, is stepping into the spotlight of her own. The teen made her runway debut for Miu Miu at Paris Fashion Week at just 16 and continues to appear at high‑profile fashion events. Faith, more low‑key, surprised fans when she joined Mom for a luxury beauty campaign released in June 2025, proving that both sisters are carving their own paths while staying tightly linked to their mom.

Balancing a demanding career with the messier, beautiful chaos of parenting isn’t easy, but Kidman says the secret lies in showing up—whether it’s for a school play, a late‑night filming call, or a quick dance in the kitchen. It’s a lesson she’s learned the hard way, and one she hopes to pass on to her daughters as they grow into their own futures.