Nicole Kidman Details Why She’s Becoming a Death Doula

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Nicole Kidman is keeping her mother’s legacy alive by pursuing an unlikely career path. 

I was so moved when I learned that after losing her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, back in September 2024 after a long battle with illness, the actress from Babygirl decided to become a death doula. It’s such a beautiful way to turn a deeply personal loss into something that helps others, and I really admire her for it.

Nicole shared that her mother felt lonely before she passed away, and her family could only do so much to help. Speaking at a University of San Francisco event on April 11, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Nicole explained that she and her sister were juggling children, careers, and the responsibility of caring for their mother after their father’s death.

Nicole Kidman, a mother to Bella and Connor Cruise (with ex-husband Tom Cruise) and Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret (with ex-husband Keith Urban), came to believe her family could have really benefited from the support of a death doula – someone who provides compassionate care for people nearing the end of their lives.

She realized she wished there were people who could offer unbiased comfort and support during difficult times.

Ever since my idol, Nicole, lost her mom, she’s been working SO hard to become certified in the same profession! I know it might sound a little strange to some, but it’s just… amazing to me. She’s really honoring her mother’s memory, and I’m completely obsessed with watching her pursue this dream!

“That’s part of my expansion,” she shared, “and one of the things I will be learning.”

Nicole won Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her role in Babygirl just as her mother passed away. She left the festival early to be with her family and lovingly dedicated the award to her mom.

I was so moved when Halina Rejn, the director, read Nicole’s letter at the festival this year. Nicole dedicated the award to someone incredibly special, saying this person truly made her – shaped her, guided her, everything. It meant so much to her to be able to share this person’s name with all of us, through Halina. She talked about how powerfully life and art can intersect, and honestly, it was heartbreaking to hear how much this loss affected her.

A few days later, the actress from Big Little Lies expressed even more thanks for all the support she’d received.

In a note written with her sister, Antonia Kidman, she shared that the messages received from people who loved their mother meant more to them than words could say.

Nicole’s decision is deeply personal, but she’s not alone – many celebrities have taken on side jobs. Here’s a look at other stars who’ve explored careers beyond their usual work…

Nev Schulman, the host of Catfish, got his real estate license in New York. In September 2025, he announced he was starting a career as a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg, just like his father, who has been a broker there for many years.

Kate Gosselin, known from the show Jon & Kate Plus 8, has complained about spending a lot of her money on legal fees during her divorce from Jon Gosselin. However, it seems she’s been happy to go back to working as a nurse.

In an August 2025 TikTok, Kate, a registered nurse working in pediatric home health, explained her approach to visiting patients. She currently works with one family, and because the children already know her name and a little about her, they feel comfortable when she arrives. She believes they often recognize her before she even enters the house.

What she knows, though, is that helping others is quite fulfilling.

Kate shared that the job has been incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable. She explained that it allows families with a child needing significant medical care to have time with their other children and pursue other important aspects of their lives.

Drew Barrymore has always been a dedicated worker. While she now hosts her own talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, she learned the value of hard work at a young age. When she became independent from her mother, Jaid Barrymore, at just 14, she had to find ways to support herself.

The actress explained in her 2015 memoir, Wildflower, that she needed a job near her and her friend’s rental home because she didn’t have a driver’s license. She knew her friend worked at a coffee shop in the area, so it was a convenient option.

She described the early 1990s as a time when coffeehouses were the popular gathering places, recalling her work at a trendy Los Angeles spot called the Living Room, where crowds would spill out onto the street nightly. However, she admitted she wasn’t a particularly good employee, or good at much of anything, really. Her experience at that point in life consisted mostly of acting and having adventurous experiences.

She served up the tea on one tense experience in her book. 

My boss, who’d initially hired me because I was a former child actor looking for a change, was understanding of my mistakes, but also clearly frustrated. I remember he came in while I was washing dishes and snapped at me, ‘Don’t use the scrubby side of the brush! You’re scratching and clouding the pastry cases, and it makes them impossible to see through!’

Leah Kateb, who appeared on Love Island USA, currently works in a corporate role. She joined the fragrance company Skylar as Chief Creative Officer in July 2025 and is helping to revitalize the brand.

Lifeguard on duty!

When Noah Schnapp, known for his role in Stranger Things, isn’t fighting monsters on screen, he works as a lifeguard. He told Flaunt magazine that he has a summer job at his local pool.

He described it as simply a fun hobby. Having a typical life and close friends outside of Stranger Things has helped him stay balanced and down-to-earth.

Erik von Detten was a teen heartthrob in the late 90s and early 2000s, starring in movies like Escape to Witch Mountain, Brink!, and The Princess Diaries. After a final acting role – a voice part in Toy Story 3 in 2010 – he switched careers and began working in finance.

Around the same time my acting work began to decrease in my early 20s, I started a new job with a finance company at age 25,” von Detten explained in a 2021 interview with TopMob. “I’ve been there ever since, and I’ve moved into a management role. It’s been a great career path for me.

Nikki Blonsky, who was nominated for a Golden Globe and starred in the 2007 film Hairspray, recently made news when reports surfaced that she was working as a makeup artist at a salon on Long Island.

In a 2011 post on X (formerly Twitter), Blonsky shared that she was working as a makeup artist at Superstar Salon and contributing financially. She emphasized, however, that she would never give up on her aspirations.

Best known for playing Officer Ponch in the TV show CHiPs, which aired from 1977 to 1983, Erik Estrada continued to work with law enforcement after the series ended. He became a reserve officer with the Muncie Police Department in Indiana, and later moved to Virginia to work as an investigator for the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. In 2016, he rejoined the ranks as a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho.

Ethan Craft serving as your real estate agent? That’s what dreams are made of!

Clayton Snyder, who played a popular character on Lizzie McGuire, decided not to continue acting after the show finished. He preferred to concentrate on playing water polo and eventually competed for Pepperdine University in California.

In a 2022 interview with TopMob News, Snyder confessed he was actually relieved when the show ended. He explained, ‘It felt like a fresh start going into high school, and I was ready to see what would happen next.’

These days, Snyder works in real estate in Los Angeles, but people still sometimes mention his time as a child actor.

As a lifestyle expert, I always aim to build relationships with my clients based on trust and my expertise. It’s honestly a great feeling when people recognize my work or maybe know me from something else – I’ve even had clients surprised to learn who I am mid-house-hunt! But what really matters to me is that they chose to work with me because I’m good at what I do, not just because of any public recognition. I want them to feel confident in my abilities, and that’s what drives me.

Did you know that before The Jonas Brothers reunited, the oldest brother, Kevin Jonas, ran his own construction business in New Jersey? During their eight-year break, he also became a co-CEO of The Blu Market, a company that works with social media influencers.

Charlie Korsmo, the actor who starred in films like Hook and Can’t Hardly Wait, traded Hollywood for a career in law. He’s now a professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, teaching corporate law and finance.

In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Korsmo to the Board of Trustees for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

Yep, Charlie gave up the chocolate factory.

Peter Ostrum is best known for playing Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Surprisingly, this was his only acting role. After earning a veterinary degree from Cornell University in 1984, he became a practicing veterinarian.

Jennifer Stone, known for her role as Harper Finkle on Wizards of Waverly Place, became a registered nurse in 2019. She then joined healthcare workers providing care during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a 2020 Instagram post, Stone reflected on World Health Day, noting a friend (@maiarawalsh) had reminded her of the significance of the day. She shared that it marked her journey from volunteer work, through nursing school, and into her current role as a resident nurse. Stone expressed her hope to one day provide the same level of care as the dedicated healthcare workers on the front lines, as she prepared to join their ranks.

Ross Bagley, who many remember as Buckwheat from The Little Rascals and Nicky Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has transitioned from acting and is now a real estate agent in Los Angeles.

So long, Truffle Shuffle, hello, habeus corpus.

Jeff Cohen, best known for playing Chunk in the beloved movie The Goonies, left acting and went on to become a lawyer. He now works as an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles.

Following his role as the intense Duncan Kane on Veronica Mars, Teddy Dunn pursued a career in law. He worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia’s United States Attorney’s Office.

Phoebe Cates became famous for her roles in movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins, and Drop Dead Fred. In the 1990s, she stopped acting after starting a family with her husband, actor Kevin Kline, and having two children.

Cates went on to open Blue Tree, a gift boutique on New York City’s Madison Avenue, in 2005.

After playing Nevel on the Nickelodeon show iCarly, Reed Alexander pursued a career in journalism, contributing to publications like Business Insider and the Wall Street Journal.

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2026-04-13 18:49