Nicole Kidman has built one of the most varied careers in modern film and television. The Australian-American actress has moved between major Hollywood productions, independent dramas, prestige television and challenging character roles. From Moulin Rouge! and The Hours to Big Little Lies, The Undoing, Babygirl and Scarpetta, her career spans several decades and genres. Her recent projects show that she continues to take on substantial roles across both film and television.
Nicole Kidman’s Early Acting Career
Born in Honolulu and raised in Australia, Nicole Kidman began acting professionally as a teenager. Her early work in Australian film and television helped establish her before she moved into international productions.
One of her important early films was Dead Calm, the 1989 psychological thriller directed by Phillip Noyce. The film brought wider attention to Kidman and demonstrated her ability to carry a demanding dramatic role.
She subsequently appeared in Days of Thunder, Far and Away and Batman Forever. These larger productions helped introduce her to mainstream American audiences while giving her opportunities to work with established Hollywood directors and performers.
The 1990s also saw Kidman take increasingly unconventional roles. In To Die For, she played Suzanne Stone, an ambitious woman determined to become a television personality. The dark comedy earned widespread critical recognition and became an important part of her development as a dramatic actor.
The Films That Established Her Reputation
The early 2000s were particularly important for Nicole Kidman. Her performance as Satine in Moulin Rouge! combined drama, romance and musical performance, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Her most significant awards milestone arrived with The Hours. Kidman portrayed writer Virginia Woolf in the Stephen Daldry-directed drama and won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 75th Academy Awards. The Academy’s official database records Kidman as the winner for her portrayal of Woolf.
The role was a major departure from her earlier work and demonstrated her willingness to transform for demanding dramatic parts.
She continued working across different genres after her Oscar win, appearing in films including Cold Mountain, The Stepford Wives, Australia, Nine and Rabbit Hole. Her performance in Rabbit Hole earned another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
| Film | Year | Career significance |
|---|---|---|
| Dead Calm | 1989 | Early international breakthrough |
| To Die For | 1995 | Acclaimed dramatic performance |
| Moulin Rouge! | 2001 | Oscar-nominated musical role |
| The Hours | 2002 | Academy Award-winning performance |
| Rabbit Hole | 2010 | Oscar-nominated dramatic role |
| Lion | 2016 | Oscar-nominated supporting performance |
| Being the Ricardos | 2021 | Lucille Ball portrayal |
| Babygirl | 2024 | Venice Best Actress winner |
Nicole Kidman and the Rise of Prestige Television
Television became a major part of Nicole Kidman’s career from the late 2010s onward. Her performance as Celeste Wright in HBO’s Big Little Lies introduced her to a new generation of viewers and earned significant awards recognition.
She later appeared in The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, Expats and The Perfect Couple. These projects showed how established film performers could build substantial careers through premium television and streaming platforms.
Kidman has also become increasingly involved as a producer. Through her production company Blossom Films, she has worked behind the scenes on several film and television projects. This has given her a role in developing stories as well as performing in them.
Her television work has become so extensive that Variety noted her recent series credits alongside upcoming projects such as Scarpetta and Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
Recent Movies and Performances
In recent years, Kidman has continued choosing projects with very different tones.
She played Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, earning another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film paired her with Javier Bardem and focused on Ball and Desi Arnaz during a particularly important period in their professional and personal lives.
In 2024, she starred in Babygirl, a psychological drama directed by Halina Reijn. Her performance won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival, adding another major international acting honour to her résumé.
Kidman has also remained active in television. Her latest projects include Scarpetta, the Prime Video adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s crime novels. She plays forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a character at the center of a story involving a murder investigation and an old case. The series premiered in March 2026.
💡 Pro Tip:
If you are exploring Kidman’s work for the first time, watch films from different stages of her career rather than focusing only on her biggest titles. To Die For, The Hours, Big Little Lies and Babygirl provide a useful view of how dramatically her roles have changed.
What Is Nicole Kidman Working On in 2026?
2026 is another busy year for Kidman. She stars in Margo’s Got Money Troubles, an Apple TV+ series based on Rufi Thorpe’s novel. The ensemble includes Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman, with Kidman also serving as an executive producer.
She is also returning as Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 1998 fantasy film. Sandra Bullock reprises her role as Sally Owens, bringing the original sisters back together for another story.
Another upcoming project is Discretion, a legal thriller series for Paramount+. Kidman stars opposite Elle Fanning, while Josh Lucas has also joined the cast. The series has an eight-episode order and is scheduled to enter production in 2026.
Kidman was also among the presenters at the 98th Academy Awards in March 2026.
📌 Key Takeaway:
Nicole Kidman’s career is defined by variety. She has moved from Australian cinema to Hollywood films, Oscar-winning drama, prestige television and streaming productions while continuing to choose roles across very different genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nicole Kidman best known for?
Nicole Kidman is known for films including Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, The Others, Cold Mountain, Being the Ricardos and Babygirl, along with television series such as Big Little Lies and The Undoing.
Did Nicole Kidman win an Oscar?
Yes. Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Hours, in which she portrayed Virginia Woolf. The Academy’s records confirm the 2003 award.
What is Nicole Kidman’s newest TV series?
One of her newest major television projects is Scarpetta, the Prime Video crime thriller based on Patricia Cornwell’s novels. Kidman plays Dr. Kay Scarpetta.
Is Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic 2?
Yes. Kidman returns as Gillian Owens alongside Sandra Bullock, who reprises her role as Sally Owens.
What are Nicole Kidman’s upcoming projects?
Her recent and upcoming work includes Practical Magic 2, Discretion, Margo’s Got Money Troubles and other television and film projects. Variety has also reported her involvement with additional productions in development.
Nicole Kidman’s Continuing Career
Nicole Kidman has remained a prominent screen performer by continually changing the kinds of stories and characters she takes on. Her Oscar-winning role in The Hours remains one of her defining achievements, but her later work in television and films such as Babygirl shows an ongoing interest in challenging material.
With Scarpetta, Practical Magic 2 and Discretion among her current projects, Nicole Kidman continues to maintain a substantial presence across film and television. Her career remains notable not simply for its longevity, but for the range of roles she has chosen along the way.
