‘Surviving’: Nicole Kidman reveals what she’s most proud of after years in the spotlight
Nicole Kidman has revealed she feels happier in her own skin at 59, opening up about motherhood, her famous daughters and the surprising job she never managed to land.
The Australian actress appears on the cover of Vogue Australia’s November issue, answering questions from some of Hollywood’s biggest names about her life on and off-screen.
Nicole Kidman is Vogue Australia’s November cover star. AP Photo/Thomas Padilla
After decades in showbiz and an Oscar to her name, Kidman admitted there is still one job she always wanted but never got.
When Margot Robbie asked about her favourite Australian television advertisement, she recalled: “Well, I always wanted to be in a McDonald’s commercial. When I was growing up, McDonald’s was it.”
“Forget about acting, I want to be in a McDonald’s commercial, because I want to be able to eat the Quarter Pounder on camera over and over again. I never got cast.”
Kidman also addressed the viral song bearing her name, which has racked up over 180 million streams.
Sunday Rose, Nicole and Faith at Paris Fashion Week last year. Corbis via Getty Images
She admitted she had never actually listened to singer Adéla’s track before giving it her blessing.
“I didn’t hear the song, but she sent me the lyrics, and I was like, ‘Yeah, go for it. Go for it, girl,’” she said.
“I have no idea what it means to feel like me because I can feel like s---, put it that way, and go, ‘I don’t feel like that today.’”
Nicole Kidman reveals surprising dream job, family secrets and life at 59 in November Vogue cover interview. Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Away from Hollywood, Kidman shares her extensive designer wardrobe with daughters Sunday Rose, 18, and Faith, 15.
Her collection features separate couture and vintage archives, curated with help from none other than “beautiful Dolly” – the late Dolly Parton – which her daughters regularly raid.
“Sunday has the best boots,” she told Vogue Australia.
“I always go, ‘I don’t buy for me, I buy for us.’”
Kidman also revealed she has never once hit the snooze button, crediting years spent waiting around on film sets for her ability to rest almost anywhere.
“I can literally just zone out and have minimal thoughts. It’s weird. And that’s rest in itself.”
When asked by actress Joey King what she was most proud of, Kidman’s answer had little to do with her accolades.
Sunday Rose and Nicole at the 2026 Met Gala. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
“Surviving. Literally starting out in this industry at 14 and still being here. I’m very proud of that and that I have the ability right now – and who knows when that will go – to actually support people and get things financed.”
With Sunday Rose now appearing on international runways – not to mention landing her own Vogue cover – Kidman said she was determined to teach her daughters the importance of hard work.
“The biggest thing I say is always be grateful, have incredibly good manners, be on time, know that this is an opportunity that you are given, and show up and be the hardest worker,” she said.
After a lifetime in the public eye, Kidman said she has finally reached a point where she feels comfortable with herself.
“I think I’m just more comfortable in my own skin right now. That’s my new thing … Weird to get that at 59, but I’m glad to say I somehow got there.”
