Nicole Kidman Speaks Out Following Divorce Filing
Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman has broken her silence about her emotional wellbeing following the dramatic end of her 19-year marriage to country music star Keith Urban. The 58-year-old Hollywood veteran offered rare insight into her personal struggles during a conversation published in Interview magazine this week.
"I'm Hanging In There" - Kidman's Emotional Admission
In a revealing turn of events, the tables were turned when Nicole found herself being interviewed by pop sensation Ariana Grande, 32, who began their discussion with the simple but loaded question: "How are you?" The Big Little Lies star responded with what many interpreted as a reference to her recent marital breakdown, stating "I'm hanging in there" when asked about her current state of mind.
The emotional disclosure came during what was supposed to be Kidman interviewing Grande, but quickly transformed into a moment of genuine connection between the two artists. This candid exchange marks one of the first times Nicole has publicly addressed her feelings since news of the separation rocked Hollywood earlier this year.
Finding Solace in Female Friendship
Kidman went on to describe how filming the upcoming Practical Magic sequel provided an unexpected sanctuary during what appears to have been a challenging period. She recalled feeling "safe" and "protected" while working on the project before her separation from Urban became public knowledge.
"Sandy Bullock and I, and then Joey King and Maisie [Williams] — we had an incredible cast," Nicole commented about the highly anticipated film. She acknowledged that working on creative projects can sometimes be emotionally draining, but emphasized the supportive environment created by her female co-stars.
"But I have such a strong relationship with all those women, so I felt protected and loved," she added. "It was just very, very safe."
The actress expressed amazement at being able to reunite with Sandra Bullock for the Practical Magic follow-up nearly three decades after the original film's release. "To come back to something so many years later and go, 'We're still able to get this movie made at a big studio like Warner's,' and that Sandy and I were able to produce it and get it made, is insane," she reflected.
The Breakdown of a 19-Year Marriage
The couple's separation was confirmed by Daily Mail on September 29, with Nicole filing for divorce just one day later on September 30, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. Sources indicate the marriage began to unravel at the beginning of summer 2025, representing what appears to have been a gradual deterioration rather than a sudden rupture.
According to insiders, the separation developed over an extended period, stemming from months of quiet separation and diverging paths due to their demanding work commitments. The split reportedly came as no surprise to those close to the couple, who had apparently been growing apart for some time.
A source close to the situation revealed to People magazine that Nicole had been anticipating the public reaction to the separation with apprehension. "She's been stressed because she knew the separation would eventually become public and she was dreading it," the insider disclosed in early October.
However, the same source described the actress as "surprisingly level-headed and calm" following the announcement, adding that "now that it's out she's just focused on what's ahead and her girls."
Focusing on Their Daughters
In her divorce filing, Kidman has requested to be the primary residential parent of the couple's two daughters, Sunday, 17, and Faith, 14. This custody arrangement would see the teenagers primarily living with their mother as both parents navigate their new reality.
The couple's love story began at the G'Day LA gala ball in January 2005, though it took several months for their romance to properly ignite. During a 2013 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Nicole revealed that Keith didn't ask her out until four months after they first met.
"I'm like, 'You didn't love me at first sight, you didn't notice me,' and he's like, 'Yes I did but I just didn't let on,' but we kind of met and then about four months later he called me," she recalled at the time.
Keith himself admitted on the Australian talk show Interview in 2018 that he needed to gather considerable courage to contact the famous actress. "I'd never have thought she'd see anything in a guy like me. But at some point I plucked up the courage to call those numbers, and she answered," the musician confessed.
Their connection proved immediate and powerful, with Urban adding: "We started talking, and we talked and talked and talked and talked, and it was effortless." The couple eventually tied the knot in 2006 during a traditional Catholic ceremony at the Cardinal Cerretti Chapel in Sydney, beginning what would become a nearly two-decade-long union that produced two children and countless public appearances as one of Hollywood's most enduring couples.
As Nicole Kidman moves forward with the divorce proceedings, her recent comments suggest she's leaning on close friendships and focusing on her work and children to navigate this significant life transition. Her openness about needing emotional support and finding comfort in female camaraderie reflects a broader trend of celebrities speaking more candidly about personal struggles, potentially helping to destigmatize discussions around relationship breakdowns and emotional wellbeing in the public eye.
