Here’s what a death doula does as Nicole Kidman announces new role

"There was only so much the family could provide.”

The 58-year-old actor recently revealed her next role will be unlike any she has taken on before, as she begins training to support people through the final chapter of their lives.

Kidman’s decision to explore this new path was reportedly inspired by the death of her mother at the age of 84 in 2024. Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle at the time, she said: “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide.”

Due to her demanding acting schedule, Kidman was unable to be fully present to support and comfort her mother in her final moments, leaving her wishing there had been someone who could “sit impartially and just provide solace and care.” It was then that she first became aware of death doulas.

Most people are familiar with a traditional doula, someone who offers emotional and physical support before, during and after childbirth. The idea of a death doula, however, is a more recent development.

In much the same way that birth doulas guide people through the practicalities of childbirth, including coordinating care and working alongside doctors and midwives, death doulas offer similar support at the other end of life, helping to navigate the process with comfort and care.

So instead of offering parenting guidance, a death doula supports the non-clinical aspects of a person’s end of life, from facilitating difficult conversations with friends and family to providing emotional reassurance and practical, logistical help.

Additionally, they can help ensure a person’s wishes are respected in their final moments, including working with medical teams to explore the possibility of dying at home, where appropriate.

Nicole Kidman previously opened up about how she had learned of her mother's death while attending an awards show in Venice.

"I was about to go on stage, and I found out my mother had died. I went right back to the room in Venice, got into bed and was completely devastated," she told Hollywood Reporter.

The mother of four went on to describe the experience as deeply traumatic.

"I remember getting into a boat in the canal, and literally at night trying to find my way to the airport, and then turning around and going, I can’t even do this.

"And then went back into the bed, and I was alone. My husband wasn’t there. My children weren’t there. I’d gone to win an award. What should have been a beautiful thing ended up with that. But there is the contrast of life."

The successful actor elaborated on her motivation to become a death doula in her interview with the Chronicle, saying: “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide.

“Between my sister and me, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world any more."

She explained that her own difficult experience had inspired her desire to help others through similar situations, saying: "So that’s part of my expansion and one of the things I will be learning."