Nicole Kidman has a new goal on the horizon that’s got nothing to do with her acting career.
She wants to train to become a death doula, and offer emotional support to people as they transition through the dying process.
“That’s part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning,” Kidman said this past weekend while onstage as part of the Silk Speaker series at the University of San Francisco.
She admitted the idea sounded “a little weird” at first, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Why Does Nicole Kidman Want to Become a Death Doula?
Kidman says her mother’s death sparked her interest in becoming a death doula. The actor’s mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, died in September 2024 after an illness.
She says that as much as she and her sister wanted to be there for their mom, they also realized they could have benefitted from the extra support of a death doula.
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“As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much family could provide,” Kidman explained. “Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world anymore.”
“That’s when I went, ‘I wish there [were] these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care,” she continued.
What Is a Death Doula?
- According to the International End-of-Life Doula Association, a death doula, or an end-of-life doula, is a “nonmedical companion who provides personalized and compassionate support to individuals, their families and their circles of care as they encounter and navigate death, loss and mortality.”
- Death doulas can facilitate open conversations about dying, help with advance care directives and end-of-life care planning and support spiritual and emotional needs during the dying process.
- They also ease the burden on caregivers, help explain the dying process and provide guidance in early stages of grief.
What Else Is Nicole Kidman Doing in 2026?
As Kidman pursues her death doula certification, she is also busy with her acting career.
The actor stars in the upcoming Apple TV series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and she’s also listed as an executive producer on that show. Kidman also stars in the thriller series Scarpetta, as well as the upcoming film Practical Magic 2.
Read More: Keith Urban + Nicole Kidman Divorce: Who Gets What?
Kidman said last month that she plans to stay in Nashville after her divorce from Keith Urban, noting that it’s been her home for the past 20 years.
9 Keith Urban Songs That Were Inspired By Nicole Kidman
During Keith Urban’s two-decade-long love story with Nicole Kidman, the singer recorded several songs inspired by their relationship. Some he wrote just for her, while others were outside cuts that made him think of his own love story.
The only upside to this couple’s devastating divorce news? Maybe we’ll get some amazing new heartbreak music from the country superstar.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
