Nicole Kidman, the Australian actress and producer, was honored with the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award on April 27, 2024. The event took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. Kidman is known for her versatile acting roles and her production company Blossom Films which has produced projects such as Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing, Love & Death, Special Ops: Lioness and Expats. During her acceptance speech at the AFI gala, Kidman expressed that she doesn't have a desire to direct movies despite her success in producing.
Kidman was joined by her husband Keith Urban and their daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret on the red carpet for the first time. The family traveled from Australia for the event, with Kidman's sister Antonia, husband Craig Marran, and their daughter Sybella also present. During her speech, Kidman thanked her family for their support throughout her career.
The AFI Life Achievement Award is given to a person who has made a significant contribution to the American culture through motion pictures. Past recipients include industry legends such as Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Naomi Watts, Reese Witherspoon, and Robert De Niro.
The 49th AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony marked Kidman's first public red carpet appearance with her daughters since their birth. The family posed for photos on the red carpet in matching elegant outfits. Kidman wore a custom Balenciaga Fall 24 gown embroidered in gold sequins, while Urban donned a black suit with silk lapels and a white shirt.
The event was attended by industry elite including Cynthia Erivo, Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Joey King. Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost made an appearance at the 2024 White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington on the same day.
Kidman's career spans over three decades with notable roles in films such as Batman Forever, Eyes Wide Shut, The Hours, and Lion. She has received numerous awards including an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Hours and a Golden Globe Award for her role in Big Little Lies.
Despite the accolades and successes throughout her career, Kidman remains humble about her achievements. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she expressed that she feels like she would be a terrible director due to having too many ideas and not being good at making choices. Instead, she enjoys producing projects that shine a light on other voices and talents.