Oscar Nominee Trivia File: Nicole Kidman

Young Nicole

Nicole Mary Kidman was born June 20, 1967 to Australian parents in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a result, she has dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Australia. Kidman's mother, Janelle, worked as a nursing instructor, and her father, Anthony, was a biochemist and clinical psychologist. Shortly after Nicole was born, the family relocated to Washington D.C. before making their way back to Sydney.

High School Drop Out Turned Actress

Kidman abandoned high school at the age of 16 to pursue acting full-time. She broke into movies, landing a role in the Australian holiday film, "Bush Christmas" in 1983. After that, Kidman was offered many other film and TV roles, including the mini-series "Vietnam," for which she won her first Australian Film Institute Award.

'Dead Calm'

Nicole made her debut in American films with "Dead Calm," starring opposite Sam Neill.

Cruising for Love

Nicole's acting career received a big boost after playing Tom Cruise's doctor and love interest in the racetrack romance "Days of Thunder." The film sparked an off-screen romance and the couple wed on Christmas Eve, 1990.

Golden Gangster Girl

As Dustin Hoffman's moll in the gangster film "Billy Bathgate," Nicole received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Rising Star

Kidman reunited with Cruise to star in Ron Howard's film, "Far and Away," about an Irish immigrant couple that flees to America in the late 1800s to seek their fortune.

'Batman Forever'

The actress played a psychiatrist and shared a romantic relationship with Bruce Wayne in 1995's "Batman Forever." The film was directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton.

Dying for an Award

In Gus Van Sant's dark comedy, "To Die For," Nicole is Suzanne Stone, an aspiring, ruthless woman who won't let anything stop her from becoming a world famous news anchor. Matt Dillon and Joaquin Phoenix star alongside Kidman in the film based on the Pamela Smart story. Kidman took home her first Golden Globe Award and was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress.

Going 1800s

In the film of the Henry James novel "Portrait of a Lady," Nicole portrays Isabel Archer, a young woman who inherits a large amount of money, only to become the target of two scheming American expatriates.

Tragic Magic

Starring opposite Sandra Bullock in the comedy "Practical Magic," Nicole Kidman is a witch who tries to break the family curse: the men she falls in love with inevitably die a tragic death.

Action Star

In the first film released by DreamWorks, Kidman tracks down stolen Russian nuclear weapons before they get into the hands of evil terrorists in the action thriller "The Peacemaker."

'Eyes Wide Shut'

Stanley Kubrick's last film, the sexual thriller "Eyes Wide Shut," stars Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise as a wealthy New York couple who embark on a nightlong sexual escapade. The controversial film sparked both criticism and praise for its provocative sexual scenes.

Musically Gifted

In Baz Luhrmann's hit musical film "Moulin Rouge," the actress showcased her impressive singing abilities as terminally ill character Satine. Ewan McGregor is Christian, who falls in love with the cabaret actress. "Moulin Rouge" was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Actress for Ms. Kidman.

'The Others'

In the creepy psychological horror movie "The Others," Kidman plays a Catholic mother who cares for her two children, who have a rare disease in which they cannot be exposed to sunlight. The film takes place after World War II in an old country house, believed to be haunted. Nicole was nominated for a BAFTA Best Actress Award and a Golden Globe.

Climbing the Mountain

Nominated again for a Golden Globe in "Cold Mountain," Kidman agonizingly waits for her lover, played by Jude Law, to come home after the American Civil War.

'Birth'

The 2004 movie "Birth" tells the bizarre story of a widow who believes her dead husband is reincarnated as a 10-year-old boy named Sean. The film earned her a Golden Globe nomination, despite mixed reviews.

Unhappily Ever After

In "Margot at the Wedding," Nicole is Margot Zeller, an emotionally stunted short-story writer who sets off to attend the wedding of her estranged sister, Pauline. The film, which also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh as Margot's free-spirited sister, tells the story of the strained relationship they share and exposes family secrets.

Down Under

The 2008 epic film "Australia" told the story of Lady Sarah Ashley, who travels from England to northern Australia during the early 1940s. Fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman also stars in the second highest-grossing Australian film of all time, after "Crocodile Dundee."

'Rabbit Hole'

Nicole is nominated for an Oscar for her noteworthy performance in "The Rabbit Hole," the story of a couple dealing with the sudden accidental death of their son. The film has earned Kidman a total of three nominations: for Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award.

'Just Go With It'

Taking a break from her serious side, Kidman plays Devlin Adams in the comedy "Just Go with It," starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. The actress shows off her bikini body in an amusing hula dance-off with Aniston.