Only hours before the Venice Film Festival concluded on Saturday, Nicole Kidman announced the death of her beloved mother.

The 57-year-old actress, portraying a formidable New York business executive who embarks on a perilous romance with her significantly younger intern, Harris Dickinson, was not in attendance.

Instead, her director, Halina Reijn, delivered a message from the actor, explaining Nicole’s mother, Janelle, had died while she was in Venice.

The statement read, ‘Today I arrived in Venice to learn that my wonderful, heroic mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, had died away.’ I’m in shock and need to get to my family, but this honor is for her; she sculpted me, directed me, and created me.

Only hours before she won Best Actress for her portrayal in Babygirl at the Venice Film Festival, which concluded on Saturday, Nicole Kidman confirmed the death of her beloved mother.

‘I’m in shock, and I have to go to my family, but this honor is for her,’ the actress said in a statement, as Janelle’s loss meant she was unable to claim her Venice prize.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to introduce her name to all of you through Halina; the collision of life and art is devastating, leaving my heart shattered.

We adore you all.

Nicole discussed her mother’s health difficulties briefly during an appearance with the Fresh Air program in January 2022.

She claimed they went to the Art Gallery of New South Wales after hours and saw the Matisse: Life & Spirit exhibition, which she described as ‘soothing balm’.

‘We’re down here mostly to care for my mother and surround her with her grandchildren,’ she explained.

‘So, although Omicron is raging across the country, we were able to take her inside the gallery after hours and show her the Matisse exhibit, which was a welcome relief from a mother who nurtured me in the arts. Matisse provided a calming balm last night.

Later in the interview, Nicole stated that she felt honored to observe the world through her mother’s eyes, characterizing it as useful.

‘I’m at a point in my life when I’m being allowed to see the world through the eyes of an 81-year-old lady,’ she stated.

This is particularly significant at this time, given her high level of awareness. She still has all of her cognitive abilities. She has not lost any memory, which is amazing, and she is highly intelligent. ‘ She’s giving me access because she’s also extremely straight and honest, so I’m seeing the world through her eyes, my mother’s eyes, and as a result, a part of me is nearly 80. She continued, “It’s certainly her point of view.” There are many different 80-year-old viewpoints, but this is her perspective and path, and I’m taking it all in and learning.

Her director, Halina Reijn, presented a message from the actor, saying that Nicole’s mother died while she was in Venice, so she would receive her acting prize instead.

In an interview with the Fresh Air program in January 2022, Nicole commented briefly about her mother’s health difficulties and described her ability to perceive the world through her mother’s eyes as extremely useful. The picture featured Nicole with her mother and sister Antonia.