Nicole Kidman Redefines Legacy
Nicole Kidman, Academy Award-winning actress and producer, packed the house for her Silk Speaker Series appearance by drawing one of the largest crowds to date.
Rain poured outside, but USF students, alumni, and friends filled the War Memorial Gym to hear from Kidman and Vicky Nguyen ’00. Nguyen, an NBC News Daily anchor and senior consumer investigative correspondent, led the conversation in her fourth appearance as a Silk Speaker Series moderator.
Known for her roles in Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, Big Little Lies, and more recently Babygirl and Scarpetta, Kidman reflected on the influences that have shaped her life and career — from her upbringing to the legacy she hopes to leave.
Kidman wants to be remembered for her generosity — both emotionally and financially. Recently, she has been trying to grow in new ways by becoming a death doula. During her mother's final days, Kidman came to learn that she was lonely.
There’s so much emphasis put on birth, but not so much on death. As part of my expansion, I’d love to learn that role. I think it’s an important part of our culture; loneliness is a big part of our world now, particularly for people in that stage of life. I want to be there. I want to be able to provide."
Growing up with parents who were changing the world in their own ways, Kidman was raised with a desire to create change and seize opportunities that her mother never had.
Due to the hot Australian sun and her fair skin, her mother would often keep her indoors during midday hours. An English teacher encouraged her to delve deep into literature, providing early inspiration for Kidman’s career. “All of the great novels would make me feel those characters,” Kidman said.
Though Kidman leads an incredibly successful global career, it didn’t come easy. “There’s always what you call the hustle,” she said. “It’s hard work. There are always going to be barriers, but everything is possible.”
That same determination powered the creation of Blossom Films, a production company that she founded in 2010. Through the company, she supports, fast-tracks, and helps younger talent blossom. Kidman believes that the future is shaped by people’s stories yet untold and voices that haven’t so far been heard.
A self-proclaimed feminist, Kidman has seen many women face barriers. With Blossom, she fights for greater access and opportunity, remarking that female directors still make up only 14 percent of those in Hollywood, although that number is up seven percent from just a decade ago.
Now, Kidman’s personal success is helping green-light projects for others. “It’s so beautiful to say to someone, ‘We’re going to be able to get this made’,” she said. “It’s such a blessing to have that power,” said Kidman.
The Silk Speaker Series at the University of San Francisco brings key thought leaders in business, culture, and global affairs to share their wisdom and ideas with students, alumni, faculty, and friends of the university.
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