Nicole Kidman reflects on her solitude behind her Oscar after her divorce from Tom Cruise

Nicole Kidman shared that she experienced one of the most significant moments of her career in profound solitude. This week, as a guest on Jake Shane’s podcast Therapuss, the Australian actress revisited the night she won the Oscar in 2003 for The Hours, which occurred two years after her divorce from Tom Cruise.

At the age of 35, she had just received the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf. While her parents were present, Nicole Kidman explained that she primarily felt the absence of a partner with whom to share this professional pinnacle. The contrast between the award and her emotional state was, in her view, particularly harsh.

The actress recounted that the evening prompted a realization. Despite the statuette and industry recognition, she questioned what she truly wanted to build in her personal life. She described this moment as a catalyst that drove her to seek greater balance outside of film sets.

Nicole Kidman also recalled that she enjoyed very little of the celebrations. After the ceremony, she attended the traditional Vanity Fair party but felt overwhelmed by emotion and uncomfortable about mingling with her Oscar. She had previously mentioned this memory in a book dedicated to the great Oscar nights, published in 2024.

This revelation comes as the actress is once again in the spotlight with the release of Practical Magic 2, where she reunites with Sandra Bullock nearly three decades after the first film. The feature film was released on September 10, 2026, coinciding with Nicole Kidman’s numerous interviews about her career and personal choices.

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were married in 1990 before divorcing in 2001. The actress later married singer Keith Urban in 2006. Their marriage ended in 2026, after nearly twenty years together.