Nicole Kidman is opening up about her mom’s profound final words to her before her death.
The Babygirl star mourned the death of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, in September, and recalled her last words during an interview on CBS Sunday Morning on Sunday, December 15.
“The final words my mama said, which I didn’t know were gonna be the final words … I was going to get on a plane and go back to see her. And she was like, ‘Maybe wait a minute because I think you just need to take care of yourself right now, Nicky,’” Kidman, 57, said. “So, I’m doing that more. And I say that to other people in the world, and particularly women. I think we tend not to take care of ourselves.”
The Oscar winner went on to reveal that when her grandmother passed away, her final words were, “Be happy.”
“And my mom said, ‘Take care of yourself,’” Kidman recalled.
Kidman said her mom’s final words are something she will honor as a mother of four herself. (Kidman shares daughter Isabella, 31, and son Connor, 29, with ex-husband Tom Cruise and teenage daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 13, with husband Keith Urban.)
“Obviously, I’m an older mother, so I want to be around for a long time for my girls,” Kidman said. “They’re amazing girls, and I’m lucky to have them. So taking care of myself means so that I can take care of them.”
Kidman found out about her mother’s death in early September shortly after arriving at the Venice International Film Festival.
“Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed,” Kidman shared in a statement read on her behalf by Babygirl director Halina Reijn during the September 7 awards ceremony, where Kidman won best actress. “I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me and she made me.”
The statement continued, “I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina, the collision of life and art is heartbreaking, and my heart is broken.”
Days later, Kidman and her sister, Antonia, shared a joint message via Instagram thanking friends and fans for supporting them amid their loss.
“My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week,” the sisters wrote. “Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express. Thank you from our whole family for respecting our privacy as we take care of each other ❤️.”
Antonia, Janelle, and Nicole Kidman. (Courtesy of Nicole Kidman/Instagram)
In October, Kidman admitted she deeply missed her mom.
“It’s been hard,” Nicole, 57, told The Hollywood Reporter at the Lioness season 2 premiere in Los Angeles. “It’s a hard road. I’m hanging in there.”
The actress said it was bittersweet to be celebrating her career success without her mother around to share it.
“I wish my mama was here,” Nicole told the outlet. “That’d be the one thing I’d say. Everything is great with work, but I wish my mama was here.”
