June 20th, 2008 - Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!

In 2006, she became one of the highest-paid actresses in the motion picture industry.

After making various appearances in film and television, Kidman received her breakthrough role in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm. Her performances in several films, such as To Die For (1995), Moulin Rouge! (2001), and The Hours (2002), have won her much critical acclaim.

In 2003, Kidman received her Star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. Kidman is also a UNIFEM and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and a singer. She is also well-known for her former marriage to the actor Tom Cruise and as her current marriage to the noted country musician Keith Urban. Because she was born to Australian parents in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kidman has dual citizenship of Australia and the United States of America.

In 2006, Kidman was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia’s highest civilian honor.

Kidman was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother, Janelle Ann, is a nursing instructor who edits her husband’s books and was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby. Her father, Dr. Antony David Kidman, is a biochemist, clinical psychologist and author, with an office in Lane Cove, Sydney. At the time of Nicole Kidman’s birth, her father was a visiting fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health of the United States. The family returned to Australia permanently when Kidman was four years old and Kidman’s parents now reside on Sydney’s North Shore. Kidman has a younger sister, Antonia Kidman, who is a journalist.

Kidman attended Lane Cove Public School in her primary school years, and then she attended the North Sydney Girls’ High School - along with her friend Naomi Watts. She then studied at the Phillip Street Theater in Sydney. This was followed by studies at the Australian Theatre for Young People.

Kidman’s first appearance in film came in 1983 when, as a fifteen year-old, she appeared in the Pat Wilson music video for the song Bop Girl. By the end of the year she had secured a supporting role in the television series Five Mile Creek and four film roles, including BMX Bandits and Bush Christmas. During the 1980s, she appeared in several Australian movies and TV series, notably including the soap opera A Country Practice, the mini-series Vietnam (1986), Emerald City (1988), and Bangkok Hilton (1989).

Not known as a singer prior to Moulin Rouge!, Kidman had several well-received vocal performances in the film. Her collaboration with Ewan McGregor on the song “Come What May” from the film’s soundtrack debuted and peaked at 27 in the UK Singles Chart. Later she collaborated with Robbie Williams on the song “Somethin’ Stupid”, a cover of the old swing song on Williams’ swing covers album Swing When You’re Winning. It debuted and peaked at 8 in the Australian ARIAnet Singles Chart, and at number 1 for three weeks in the UK. It was the UK Christmas number 1 Single for 2001.

In 2006, she provided her voice for the animated movie Happy Feet, along with her vocals for her character Norma Jean’s ‘heartsong’, which was a slightly altered version of “Kiss” by Prince.

Olympia Dukakis-Actress -77
Martin Landau-Actor -77
Danny Aiello-Actor -75
Lionel Richie-Singer -59
John Goodman-Actor -56
Peter Paige-Actor -39
Josh Lucas-Actor -37
Christopher Mintz-Plasse-Actor -19

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