Published by desperate9

Nicole Kidman's acting talents have come dramatically to the fore since her divorce from Tom Cruise, earning her a solid reputation as one of Hollywood's most versatile and talented actresses.

Born in Honolulu, she spent most of her childhood in her parents' native Australia, taking acting and ballet lessons. Her career began in 1983 with a role in 'Bush Christmas', which was followed by a fateful role opposite Tom Cruise in 'Days of Thunder', during which their relationship began. They married in a matter of months and went on to adopt two children, Connor and Isabella, divorcing over a decade later.

Kidman later took parts in 'Batman Forever' in 1996 and Jane Campion's 'The Portrait of a Lady'. Her more mainstream pictures include 'Practical Magic' and 'The Peacemaker', but depsite her talent, she wasn't widely recognised until Stanley Kubrick's 'Eyes Wide Shut' came out in 1999, which she had made with her husband.

Other blockbusters included 'Moulin Rouge', in which she showcased her singing and dancing talents as Satine, 'The Others' and 'Birth'. Once of Kidman's more unusual films, 'Dogville', was a screenplay by Lars Von Trier, released in 2003. In 2004, she acted in the most expensive commercial ever made for Chanel No. 5, directed by Baz Luhrman, with extravagant costumes designed by Chanel headman, Karl Lagerfeld.