Nicole Kidman has revealed she is training to become a death doula, saying the experience was inspired by her family’s personal encounter with end-of-life care following the death of her mother.
The 58-year-old actress said the idea “may sound a little weird”, but explained that it stemmed from her desire to provide comfort and support to people during their final moments, as well as to assist grieving families.
Kidman shared that the experience of caring for her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, who died in September 2024 at the age of 84, had a profound emotional impact on her and her sister, Antonia.
Speaking at a Silk Speaker Series event at the University of San Francisco, she said there were moments during her mother’s final days when she felt the family could only provide limited comfort.
She added that the experience made her reflect on the need for trained individuals who can offer calm, impartial support and companionship to those nearing death and their loved ones.
Kidman said this realisation had led her to explore death doula training as part of what she described as her personal “expansion”.
The Oscar-winning actress is among a growing number of public figures who have shown interest in end-of-life care support roles.
Riley Keough previously shared that she had undergone similar training in 2021, saying it helped her process grief following the death of her brother, Benjamin Keough, in 2020.
Film director Chloé Zhao has also spoken about completing death doula training, saying it helped her confront her own fears about mortality and deepen her understanding of grief and loss.
Kidman’s remarks have sparked renewed discussion about the role of death doulas and the growing interest in end-of-life companionship, particularly in modern societies where death is often medically managed and less openly discussed.
