Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman has shared surprising news about her future plans. The 58-year-old star is not just sticking to Hollywood. She is currently training to become a death doula. This choice came from a very personal place after her mother Janelle Kidman passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84. Kidman spoke about this new path during a talk at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym as part of the Silk Speaker Series.
What is a Death Doula Exactly?
Most people know what a birth doula does. They help bring new life into the world with comfort and support. A death doula does the same thing but at the end of life. Also known as an end-of-life doula, this person provides non-medical support to someone who is dying. They do not give medicine or perform medical tasks. Instead, they offer emotional, spiritual, and practical help.
Think of them as a calm guide. They sit with the person who is dying. They talk to the family. They help make sure the person’s last days are peaceful and full of dignity. The International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) says a death doula is a non-medical companion who helps people deal with death, loss, and dying. They do things like legacy work, which means helping the dying person tell their own story. They also help families understand what to expect when death is near. Some death doulas charge around $50 an hour, but many will work for free if the family cannot afford it.
Why Nicole Kidman Chose This New Direction
Kidman admitted that this idea may sound a little strange to some people. But for her, it makes perfect sense. When her mother was dying, Kidman felt something was missing. The family tried their best, but they could not be there every single second. Her father, Dr. Antony Kidman, passed away back in 2014. So there was no partner there to help her mother either.
“As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide. Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world any more, and that’s when I went, ‘I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care’.”
Kidman has a big family. She shares two adopted children, Bella Kidman Cruise, 33, and Connor Cruise, 31, with her ex-husband Tom Cruise. She also has two daughters, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, 17, and Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, 15, with her husband Keith Urban. Her sister Antonia Kidman has six children. With so many kids and busy work schedules, the family could not always be at Janelle’s bedside. Kidman wishes someone neutral and caring had been there to fill that gap.
A Growing Profession in the United States
Death doulas are becoming more common across the country. They have been around for about 15 years, but many people are just now learning about them. The job is not licensed or regulated by the government yet. That means anyone can call themselves a death doula without a certificate. However, good training programs exist. Organizations like INELDA and NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance) offer proper education and keep directories of trained doulas.
Experts say death doulas help take the fear out of dying. Barbara Karnes, a famous hospice nurse, says death and birth are very similar. Both are intense, emotional, and unfamiliar to most people. Having someone there who knows what to expect makes a huge difference. Doctors agree. Dr. Adjoa Boateng Evans from Duke Health says that death is not really a medical event. It is a spiritual one. She thinks death doulas help families by explaining what is happening in simple, kind words.
Kidman’s Busy Acting Schedule Continues
Even with this new training, Kidman is not leaving movies anytime soon. She has a lot of work coming out. The TV series Margo’s Got Money Troubles just came out in April 2026. The movie Practical Magic 2 is scheduled to release in September 2026. She also has the next season of Big Little Lies and a show called Scarpetta on her list of projects. Fans will see plenty of her on screen while she learns this new skill off screen.
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Other Hollywood Stars Interested in Death Doula Work
Kidman is not the only famous person drawn to this work. Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao has also trained as a death doula. Zhao, who directed the movie Nomadland, told the New York Times in January 2026 that she has always been very scared of death. She decided to learn about it so she could live her life better. “Because I’ve been so afraid I haven’t been able to live fully,” Zhao said. She believes that facing her fear helps her enjoy the second half of her life.
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