Hollywood star Nicole Kidman has made her first public statement since the death of her mother Janelle Kidman, 83, in Sydney on Saturday night.
The actress had just landed in Italy for the Venice International Film Festival when her mother’s death was announced.
Her younger sister Antonia was pictured visiting her late mother’s home on Sunday afternoon, hugging a friend and placing a single flower at the door.
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Nicole has now returned to Australia to be with the rest of her family.
While a note written by Nicole was read out at the festival in her absence, she has now spoken publicly through social media.
“My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” Nicole wrote on Instagram.
“Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express.
“Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other.”
Nicole’s friends and colleagues expressed their condolences, including fellow Australian star Naomi Watts.
“Sending so much love to you both,” Watts said in the comments.
“So sorry for your loss.
“Your wonderfully spirited mum will be missed by so many.
“Hopefully she is now peacefully reunited with your papa.
“Love you.”
“She’s just breathtaking,” actress Teresa Palmer said.
Nicole’s former fiance Lenny Kravitz — and father of her co-star Zoë Kravitz — also extended his sympathies.
“My deepest condolences to you and the family,” Kravitz said.
“I am blessed to have been in her presence. Rest in power.”
In her festival note, read out by Babygirl director Halina Reijn, Nicole said her “heart is broken”.
“Today I arrived in Venice to find out, shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed,” it read.
“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 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 heart-breaking, and my heart is broken.
“We love you all.”
Janelle is understood to have experienced health issues since at least 2022, when Nicole spoke about them on the Fresh Air podcast.
She said they had managed to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales to see the Matisse: Life and Spirit; exhibition, which she described as like a “soothing balm”.
Nicole said she felt lucky to be able to see the world through her mother’s eyes, and described her outlook as “so beneficial”.
“I’m at the place where I’m being given the chance to view the world, because of how close we are, my mum is giving me the chance to view the world through an 81-year-old woman’s eyes,” she said at the time.
“She’s giving me access, because she’s also very direct and very honest, and so I’m getting access to the world through her eyes, my mother’s eyes, so therefore a part of me almost at 80.”
– With PA and Reuters
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