Just three months after confirming her split from husband Keith Urban, Hollywood icon Nicole Kidman is reportedly being nudged towards a new romance with a famous old friend.
An A-list matchmaker steps in
According to a report in Woman's Day magazine, the Oscar-winning actress's close confidante, Naomi Watts, has suggested she consider dating fellow Australian star Simon Baker. The pair have been friends for decades and share a deep connection, with both Kidman and Watts serving as godmothers to Baker's children.
A source told the publication that while the friendship has always been 'strictly platonic,' Naomi believes Simon 'would drop everything and everyone to hook up with Nicole.' However, the insider added that Kidman is reportedly 'too scared' to risk damaging her long-standing bond with the 56-year-old star of The Mentalist.
Navigating friendship and a fresh start
Complicating matters further is Kidman's desire to protect her friendship with Rebecca Rigg, Baker's ex-wife and a fellow Australian actress. The source also indicated that while Watts would 'love to see' the pair together, she recognises Kidman is not yet ready, as she is 'still getting over her split from Keith.'
The timing coincides with their upcoming professional collaboration. The two stars are set to co-star in the new streaming series Scarpetta, based on Patricia Cornwell's novels, which premieres on Stan in March. Reports suggest it was Watts who initially proposed Baker play Kidman's lover in the crime drama.
A flirtatious history and moving forward
Baker has previously been playfully flirtatious about his friendship with Kidman in public. In 2022, while promoting their roles as a couple in the Apple+ series Roar, he shared a steamy image of her on Instagram with the caption: 'I had the privilege of playing husband to Nicole Kidman, hmmn…' He joked alongside the photo, 'Didn't know she'd be eating photographs.'
The news emerges as Kidman was spotted at Sydney Airport this past Sunday, beaming alongside her two teenage daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 15. The family was returning to the US after Nicole spent the festive season in Australia, her first Christmas since the separation.
The divorce from country music star Keith Urban was confirmed in late September 2025, with Kidman citing irreconcilable differences. Sources indicate the marriage began to unravel at the start of summer 2025, following months of quiet separation largely due to conflicting work schedules. In the divorce filing, Kidman has requested to be the primary residential parent for their children.
