Nicole Kidman Misses Babygirl Toronto Premiere After Her Mom's Death, Director Says Actress Had Been 'Excited' for Event

Nicole Kidman continues to privately mourn the death of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman.

The Oscar winner did not appear at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Babygirl on Tuesday, Sept. 10, days after news of her mother's death.

During the Toronto premiere, the film's director, Halina Reijn, explained Kidman's absence.

"We just came back from Venice where we had the world premiere of our movie, and it was quite an emotional experience as you might have read because Nicole Kidman had just won the award for best actress," Reijn told attendees.

"Unfortunately, right before she was going to go on the stage and accept the award, she sadly heard of her mother's passing and had to rush off to her family, and that's why she's not here with us tonight. But she wanted all of us to know that she was so excited for this day," the director continued. "It's very special to us. This is our North American premiere."

At the Venice Film Festival over the weekend, Kidman, 57, was awarded with the event's best actress prize for her performance but sent a statement in her absence. 

Read aloud by Reijn, 48, at the time, Kidman wrote that she had arrived in Italy, only to find out "shortly after that my beautiful, brave mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, has just passed."

"I'm in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her. She shaped me, she guided me and she made me. I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina," the director continued, reading Kidman's statement. "The collision of life and art is heartbreaking, and my heart is broken."

After reading Kidman's words to the packed house in Venice, Reijn said simply: "We love you all, Nicole."

A rep for Kidman confirmed Janelle's death to PEOPLE and said "the family is heartbroken and asks for privacy at this time."

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The Big Little Lies actress opened up to PEOPLE in November 2023 about how her mother influenced her career and her sense of style, sharing at the time that Janelle "is so involved in what I wear."

Kidman also previously spoke with the Sydney Morning Herald about their relationship. She said Janelle always encouraged her and helped her to achieve her goals.

“She’s given me the fire to pursue the career I have because I’ve always wanted to please her,” Kidman told the outlet in 2020, per the Hollywood Reporter. “But she also carved her own path and wanted her daughters to have the same opportunity to carve their own paths."

“Mum didn’t necessarily get the career that she wanted, but she was determined that her daughters would have opportunities that were equal," Kidman added. "That’s given me my life. And she gave me my life, she and my dad.”

The actress stars with Harris Dickinson and Antonio Banderas in Babygirl, in which Kidman portrays a business executive who starts an affair with an intern (Dickinson). Banderas plays Kidman's character's husband.

Babygirl is in theaters Dec. 25.