Nicole Kidman training to become death doula after her mom was 'lonely' in final moments

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Nicole Kidman is looking beyond Hollywood as she begins exploring a deeply personal and meaningful new path.

Speaking at the University of San Francisco on Saturday, April 11, the actress revealed that she is training to become a death doula - a role focused on supporting people through the end of life.

The announcement came during the university’s Silk Speaker Series, where Kidman reflected on life, loss and what comes next.

Nicole Kidman finds purpose after personal loss

Kidman shared that the decision to pursue this path was inspired by the death of her mother in 2024 at the age of 84.

Recalling those final moments, she spoke honestly about how difficult it was for her family to fully meet her mother’s needs during that time.

“As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide,” Kidman said.

She explained that despite the love and effort from her and her sister, life’s demands made it hard to always be present in the way they wanted.

“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,” she continued.

That experience led her to a realization that stayed with her. “And that’s when I went, ‘I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care.’”

Understanding what a death doula does

The role Kidman is stepping into is not medical but deeply human.

A death doula provides emotional, spiritual and practical support to individuals who are nearing the end of their lives, as well as to their families.

These caregivers are there to offer comfort, companionship and guidance during a time that can often feel overwhelming and isolating.

For Kidman, the idea of being able to give that kind of support to others has become an important goal.

“So that’s part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning,” she said, describing this new direction as a natural extension of her life experiences.

A broader perspective on life and mortality

Kidman’s journey into this field reflects a larger shift in how she is approaching life and loss. Having also lost her father in 2014 after a fall, the actress has faced profound personal grief over the years.

Those experiences appear to have shaped her desire to better understand mortality - not just for herself, but in a way that allows her to help others navigate it too.

Interestingly, she isn’t alone in this. Filmmaker Chloe Zhao has also trained as a death doula, driven by her own fears and questions about death.

Zhao has spoken openly about how confronting that fear became necessary for her personal growth.

“I have been terrified of death my whole life. I still am,” Zhao said, explaining how that fear pushed her to seek a healthier relationship with the idea of mortality.

Even as she explores this new path, Kidman continues to stay active in her acting career.

She recently starred in projects like “Scarpetta” and “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” with “Practical Magic 2” set for release later this year.