Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman has opened up about her approach to vulnerability, her evolving career as a producer, and recent personal changes in a revealing new interview for Vogue's November 2025 cover story. The Australian-born star, who recently wrapped filming "Practical Magic 2" with Sandra Bullock in London, discussed her philosophy of staying "open" despite the protective armor often required in Hollywood.

Meeting in a London hotel in late August, Kidman appeared fresh from settling her teenage daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, into their new school year in Nashville before returning to complete the highly anticipated sequel. The actress, elegantly dressed in a white silk jacquard sundress and gold ballerina slippers, spoke candidly about her evolution from a young performer to a powerful producer who has fundamentally changed opportunities for women in Hollywood.

Kidman's journey began at age 14 in her native Sydney, leading to her breakthrough Hollywood role opposite Tom Cruise in "Days of Thunder" in 1990. Her subsequent marriage to Cruise thrust her into the tabloid spotlight throughout the 1990s, a period marked by both critical acclaim and inevitable box office disappointments. Following their divorce, an Oscar win for "The Hours," and a brief engagement to Lenny Kravitz, she found stability in her marriage to Australian country singer Keith Urban and made Nashville her home base.

Over nearly four decades in the entertainment industry, Kidman has demonstrated remarkable versatility, transitioning seamlessly between art house films and blockbusters across multiple genres. She has portrayed iconic figures including Grace Kelly, Gertrude Bell, Lucille Ball, Martha Gellhorn, and Diane Arbus, accumulating numerous awards and accolades. Her production company, Blossom Films, founded in 2010, has become a significant force in creating opportunities for female filmmakers and stories.

The actress's commitment to supporting women in the industry crystallized in 2017 following the success of "Big Little Lies," which she produced with friend and Nashville neighbor Reese Witherspoon. Kidman pledged to work with a female director every 18 months, a promise she has exceeded by collaborating with more than 20 female directors in recent years. "Suddenly, it was like a golden road," she explained, describing how the landscape shifted to create more opportunities for women-led projects.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who serves as both coproducer and costar with Kidman in the upcoming Prime Video series "Scarpetta," praised what she calls "the Nicole effect." Curtis described how Kidman's involvement brings "a different level of seriousness, of complexity, of intensity" to projects. The series, based on Patricia Cornwell's forensic scientist novels, represents another example of how established actresses are leveraging their success to create meaningful content.

Kidman's recent work has explored increasingly complex themes of female sexuality and power dynamics. Her latest film, "Babygirl," written and directed by Halina Reijn, features Kidman as a CEO exploring sexual submission with a much younger lover. This role continues her career-long willingness to tackle challenging, often controversial material, from Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" with Cruise to experimental projects like Lars von Trier's "Dogville."

Reflecting on her attraction to provocative roles, Kidman acknowledged her uncertainty about the pattern while emphasizing that "sex is an important part of our lives and is still, a lot of times, taboo, and it shouldn't be." She describes herself as a character actor despite her movie-star status, drawn to projects that challenge her understanding and push her into unfamiliar territory.

Fashion has played a significant role throughout Kidman's career, serving various purposes from artistic expression to protective armor. Her collaboration with designers like John Galliano, whose famous Absinthe dress for Dior she wore to the 1997 Oscars, helped define the modern red carpet's evolution. This year, she was announced as a new face for Chanel, coinciding with Matthieu Blazy's debut collection for the house.

The actress maintains a refreshingly honest approach to aging and appearance in an industry obsessed with youth. She embraces being photographed without makeup and prefers authentic moments in her performances, including leaving her nose red during crying scenes. "I love flaws in the skin and I love real tears," she explained, demonstrating her commitment to genuine emotion over polished perfection.

Personal loss has significantly impacted Kidman's recent years, including the death of her father in 2014 and her mother's passing in September of last year, which occurred on the same day she was to receive the best actress award for "Babygirl" at the Venice Film Festival. She chose to skip the ceremony, prioritizing her grief over professional obligations—a decision that reflects her growing commitment to self-protection and personal boundaries.

In a development that emerged after the interview, Kidman's separation from Keith Urban became public, with divorce proceedings filed in late September. During their conversations, she reflected philosophically on life's unpredictability: "How many times do you have to be taught that you think you know where your life is going and then it isn't going in that direction?"

Despite personal challenges, Kidman continues to maintain a robust support system in Nashville, including close friendships with fellow actress Witherspoon, a senior oncologist at Vanderbilt Hospital, and other trusted confidantes. She describes these as "ride-or-die friendships" that provide essential support through life's inevitable ups and downs.

Looking ahead, Kidman's production slate remains packed with ambitious projects. "Scarpetta" films in Nashville, allowing her a more conventional work schedule, while "Practical Magic 2" was strategically filmed in London during summer months so both she and Bullock could have their children with them during vacation time. Additional upcoming projects include "Margo's Got Money Troubles" with Elle Fanning.

The actress has begun contemplating writing, though she describes the idea as still "too fragile to talk about." She keeps a journal and records her dreams, later burning the notes as part of her creative process. "There's a wealth of things I am compiling in my little psyche," she revealed, suggesting this new creative direction might become "a necessity" rather than merely a departure.

Kidman's relentless work ethic shows no signs of slowing as she approaches what would traditionally be considered the later stages of an acting career. Her production company has projects "lined up like airplanes coming into JFK," and she remains passionate about exploring fundamental questions through her art. "So much to say and so little time to say it," she explained, listing themes from "death and life and joy and grief and loss and sex" to existential questions about reality and human nature.

When asked why she continues working at such an intense pace, Kidman's response revealed her deep commitment to her craft: "Why stop? You'll have to tie me down, tie me up!" This enthusiasm, combined with her growing influence as a producer and her continued willingness to take creative risks, suggests that Kidman's most impactful work may still lie ahead as she continues to redefine what's possible for women in Hollywood.