Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman has opened up about the unique challenges her teenage daughters face while maturing under intense public scrutiny.
The Fishbowl of Fame
In a revealing conversation with pop superstar Ariana Grande for Interview Magazine, Kidman reflected on the pressures of celebrity life. The discussion took place on Tuesday 25 November 2025, where both artists shared their experiences with the dissection that accompanies fame.
Grande, promoting her new blockbuster Wicked: For Good, confessed her gratitude for her career but admitted she hadn't anticipated certain aspects of the spotlight. She revealed her life transformed "in a very drastic way" when she became a chart-topping artist known for hits like "Thank U, Next" and "Dangerous Woman".
Kidman responded with empathy, stating: "Well, you're very young, and then suddenly you're put into this fishbowl and everything is dissected." She described a cycle where overthinking leads to fear and hurt, ultimately making one reluctant to engage with the world.
A Generational Shift in Resilience
The Oscar-winner acknowledged experiencing a "constant push-pull" with fame herself, but noted a significant generational difference shaped by social media's prevalence.
"I'm raising teenage girls right now, and it's fascinating," said Kidman, referring to her daughters with country singer Keith Urban: 17-year-old Sunday Rose and 14-year-old Faith Margaret. "I think they have an armour that we didn't get or that I certainly didn't get, because there was no social media."
She observed that today's youth appear better equipped to handle public scrutiny, noting: "The very, very young now have already gone, 'We know exactly how to handle this.'" Speaking specifically about Sunday and Faith, Kidman revealed: "They don't take a lot of things personally. They shrug it off."
Different Approaches to Celebrity
While Grande expressed wanting "a dose of that" resilience, she shared her own struggles with maintaining emotional detachment. She described finding the practice exhausting and questioned whether such psychological maneuvering should be necessary for artists.
When Kidman encouraged pursuing what she called "the spiritually enlightened route," Grande countered with a more contemporary approach: "But I actually would rather go the cool young person route and just say what's on my mind sometimes. I really would, but then I just do a meditation and move on."
The actress also has two adult children from her previous marriage to Tom Cruise: 32-year-old Bella and 30-year-old Connor. Meanwhile, her younger daughter Sunday is already making her own mark in the spotlight, having walked the runway for Miu Miu during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year alongside established figures like Willem Dafoe and Hilary Swank. This marked her second catwalk appearance following her viral debut for the same fashion house in October 2023.
