“She has the heart of a lioness”

Nicole Kidman is part of that exclusive list of the most acclaimed actors and actresses in the world of Hollywood. And this has been demonstrated by the latest recognition she has received. The interpreter of Bewitched and Australia received the prestigious award this Saturday night ‘AFI Life Achievement Award’, the highest award given by the American Film Institute. There she was surrounded by a large number of industry colleagues, and they all surrendered to her.

The annual tribute took place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles (the venue recognized for hosting the biggest night in cinema, the Oscars) where some of Kidman’s closest friends gathered. Among them were Oscar winners Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon and Oscar nominee Naomi Watts. All of them paid tribute to the successful career of the 56-year-old actress.

The star of the night made an appearance in a tight gold sequin dress. Nicole entered the theater to cheers and ovations, while she played in the background Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend by Marilyn Monroe. The night began with a video featuring Freeman in a parody of Kidman’s recent advertising campaign for AMC theaters to promote a return to movies after the pandemic. “Somehow she makes heartbreak feel good in a place like this,” Freeman said in the shared video.

Later, the actor Now you see Me took the stage at the Dolby to congratulate Kidman as a fellow winner of the AFI Life Achievement, with which he was honored in 2011. On the other hand, he confessed that Kidman’s musical, Moulin Rouge, is one of his favorite movies. The performer ended his speech by singing a line from the ballad Your Song by Elton John. “How wonderful life is while you’re in the world,” Freeman sang to Kidman.

But Freeman was by no means the only one to have kind words for Nicole. Naomi Watts also took the stage, telling some memories about the woman she considers “the sister I never had.” They both met when they were 15 years old and were aspiring actresses in Sydney. “She’s tall, elegant and wickedly smart, with the most infectious laugh you’ve ever heard,” Watts said, full of admiration. “Nic has always been the most generous person,” she said. “She has the heart of a lioness,” she said.

Bob Gazzale, president of AFI, praised Kidman in an interview with Variety, in which he talked about her, saying that she embodies “the glamor and romance of Hollywood’s past.” Kidman’s wide variety of different performances was highlighted during the event, with different roles in productions such as Moulin Rouge either The Hours, among many others. It was for this last role in 2002 that she earned her Academy Award for ‘Best Actress’. Without a doubt, an icon.