Nicole Kidman has revealed that she is training to become a death doula, a trained, non-medical professional who supports people and their families through the end-of-life process, emotionally, practically, and sometimes spiritually. The Oscar-winning actor shared her decision during a recent talk at the University of San Francisco, adding that her personal experience led her to it.
The move follows the loss of her mother in 2024. Kidman reflected on the challenges families face when caring for dying loved ones and the support she wished had been available to her during that difficult time.
What inspired the decision
Kidman acknowledged that the idea might seem unusual, but said it stems from empathy. “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide,” she told the audience, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
She continued, “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 anymore, 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.’”
“So that’s part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning,” the actor added.
What a death doula does
A death doula is a non-medical companion who supports people through death, loss and mortality. The role has gained attention through portrayals in media such as the film The Pitt, highlighting how these caregivers offer emotional, spiritual and practical support.
Others in Hollywood exploring the path
Kidman is not alone in this journey. Director Chloe Zhao, known for the film Hamnet, has also trained as a death doula. In an interview with The New York Times, Zhao said her lifelong fear of death led her to seek a better understanding of it.
“I have been terrified of death my whole life. I still am. And because I’ve been so afraid, I haven’t been able to live fully. And because I’m so scared of it, I have no choice but to start to develop a healthier relationship with it, or the second half of life would be too hard. It shouldn’t be this terrifying that I can’t even live,” she explained.
On the acting front, Kidman recently appeared in Scarpetta and Margo’s Got Money Troubles. She will now be seen in Practical Magic 2, which is scheduled to release later this year.
