Nicole Kidman says she is looking to be a 'death doula' after mom's death

Pop Culture NewsNicole Kidman says she is looking to be a 'death doula' after mom's deathThe actress said that the experience with her mother two years ago sparked an interest in supporting others through loss.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Nicole Kidman said she began experiencing deep grief after the death of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, in 2024.Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 13, 2026, 12:18 PM EDTBy Francie EbertAcademy award‑winning actress Nicole Kidman revealed over the weekend that she is embarking on a new role: a death doula. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Kidman shared the details of her new career path during an appearance Saturday with NBC News’ chief consumer investigative correspondent, Vicky Nguyen, at the University of San Francisco as part of the school’s Silk Speaker Series.Her decision to train to become a death doula, she explained, stems from the profound grief she felt after her 84-year-old mother’s death in May 2024. "As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide," Kidman said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world anymore, and that’s when I went, 'I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care.'"Kidman, 58, said that though the idea to train to become a death doula sounded “a little weird,” the experience with her mother sparked an interest in supporting others through loss.“So that’s part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning,” she added.According to INELDA, the International End of Life Doula Association, an end‑of‑life doula is a "non‑medical companion" who provides support as individuals navigate death, loss and...