Hollywood star Nicole Kidman has revealed an unexpected turn in her professional life, sharing that she is training to become a "death doula," a role that provides emotional and practical support to individuals at the end of life.
During a discussion at the University of San Francisco as part of the "Silk Speaker Series," the 58-year-old actress confessed that this decision stemmed from a deeply personal and painful experience: the loss of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84.
Kidman explained that the final period of her mother's life was emotionally heavy for the entire family. She emphasized that there was often a lack of specialized support that could bring peace and proper presence during those delicate moments.
According to her, it was precisely this absence that prompted deeper reflection on how people cope with the end of life and the role a trained person could play in providing impartial and humane support.
Also known as end-of-life caregivers, death doulas offer emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to individuals in the final stages of life, as well as to their families.
This role is gaining increasing importance in modern healthcare systems, as it focuses not only on the patient but also on how relatives cope with loss.
Nicole Kidman has often spoken about the pain of losing her parents. Her father passed away in 2014, while the loss of her mother has been a significant blow that, she says, continues to affect her emotionally.
In recent months, the actress has made several public tributes to Janelle Ann Kidman, describing her as a key figure in her life, both personally and professionally.
Although she remains one of Hollywood's biggest names, it seems Nicole Kidman is seeking a new dimension beyond acting—a path more connected to humanism and helping others during life's most difficult moments.
This decision is seen not only as a career shift but as a profound personal step, showing that even the most prominent public figures face grief and seek ways to transform it into something meaningful.