Nicole Kidman’s New Path: Embracing the Role of a Death Doula
Oscar-winning Australian actress Nicole Kidman has revealed that she is exploring a new career path, one that involves learning to become a death doula. This shift in focus comes as a surprising change for the acclaimed performer, who admits it feels “a little weird.” But what exactly is a death doula?
A death doula, much like a birth doula who supports individuals during childbirth, provides guidance and emotional support to those nearing the end of their lives. This role involves helping people navigate the final stages of life with compassion, care, and understanding. For Nicole, this decision was deeply personal and inspired by her late mother, Janelle Kidman, who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 84.
Nicole shared her thoughts on the experience, explaining how her mother’s passing left her feeling helpless. “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide,” she said. “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.’”
This realization led Nicole to consider becoming a death doula herself, hoping to offer similar support to others. However, it remains unclear whether this new direction will affect her ongoing film projects. She continues to be active in her acting career, with upcoming films such as Practical Magic 2 set for release in September 2026 and the television series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, which debuted in April 2026. Other projects include the next season of Big Little Lies and Scarpetta.
At the time of her mother’s passing, Nicole was experiencing a high point in her career, having won Best Actress at the 2024 Venice Film Festival for her role in Babygirl. However, the news of her mother’s death hit her hard. “I was about to go onstage and I found out my mother had died and I went right back to the room in Venice, got into bed and was completely devastated and thought, ‘I do not know how I’m gonna move forward or function now,’” she recalled.
Nicole described the emotional turmoil of trying to leave Venice to be with her family in Australia. “I remember getting into a boat in the canal, literally at night, trying to find my way to the airport, and then turning around going, ‘I can’t even do this.’ Then I went back to bed. And I was alone. My husband wasn’t there, my children weren’t there. I was there to win an award, which should’ve been a beautiful thing. That there is the contrast of life.”
In the October 2017 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, journalist Caroline Baum spoke with several Australian death doulas. In her feature, she wrote that death doulas “prepare the way for the final journey with empathy and love.” This sentiment echoes the experiences of those who have chosen this path, including Victoria Spence, a Sydney-based celebrant who has gained a reputation for conducting individual funeral ceremonies and supporting families through loss.
Victoria, 52, brings her background in theatre to her work, while staying out of the spotlight. “My role is to make everyone feel calm, safe and able to express whatever emotions they need to share,” she says. Her approach has helped many families cope with the loss of loved ones, especially in difficult circumstances.
Another notable figure in the movement is Zenith Virago, a 60-year-old tribal elder of the Death Doula community. Versed in the rites of Indigenous cultures around the world, Zenith describes herself as a “hippie lesbian” and lives in Byron Bay, NSW. She has spent 20 years teaching and practicing a holistic awareness of death through the Natural Death Care Centre.
Imogen Bailey, a novice death doula, started her training at the Australian Doula College. With a background in acting and modeling, she has also explored personal development through practices such as Vipassana meditation and ecstatic dance. Her journey into death doulas began after being sent to Mogadishu for a reality show, where she faced death face-to-face.
For Georgia Zweep, having a death doula assist during her daughter’s final days was a transformative experience. “It allowed me to reframe the loss and gave me a solid foundation on which to build memories, rather than being left carrying around a deep wound. With the right help, you can come back from mourning.”
