It may seem strange, but one of the best examples of misogyny applied to Nicole Kidman for decades. Today she is indisputably one of the best actresses of her generation, although always considered talented, she spent her first 10 years in Hollywood referred to as “Tom Cruise‘s wife” and then another 10 as “Tom Cruise‘s ex-wife”. However, with her consistent career in Theatre, Cinema, and TV, today she is simply Nicole. So much so that she will be honored by the American Film Institute (AFI) with the Lifetime Award, the institution’s 49th.

The award ceremony was actually scheduled for 2023, but, with the strikes, it was rescheduled for April 2024. That’s okay. Even better than seeing Nicole on screen or on stage is seeing her on the red carpet, a legendary icon that places her among the most elegant of all time.

Unsurprisingly, Nicole Kidman represents her country like few others. Australian artists have always stood out, but she is the first to receive the AFI Life Achievement Award. Now 57 years old, she is an example: she overcame the challenge of women over 40 without stopping working, navigating between large and smaller productions with the same ease.

Versatility and courage have always been her signature: drama, adventure, comedy, or musical find an actress willing to leave her comfort zone where her talent has allowed her to work with some of the best filmmakers in history, from Stanley Kubrick to Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Baz Luhrmann, Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, and Lars von Trier, among many, being nominated no less than five times for an Oscar (it should have been more) and winning one, in addition to two Emmys, six Golden Globes, and two BAFTAs.

Before Nicole, only 10 women received the AFI honor: Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Julie Andrews, a prestige that confirms the actress’s status as effectively a legend in Hollywood.

Although she is still young to receive the AFI Life Achievement Award, it is more than fair. Created 50 years ago, it is only awarded to a single honoree per year and he must meet the criteria that “whose talent has fundamentally advanced the art of cinema; whose achievement has been recognized by academics, critics, professional peers, and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.” Nicole Kidman‘s professional career began when she was still a teenager in Australia, but in Hollywood, she has been stable for 35 years, a rare feat for any artist.

And I swear it’s not gossip, but also a ‘far and distant dream’: although they’ve been divorced for 24 years, it would be important and moving if Tom Cruise was in Los Angeles paying tribute to her. After all, he was the one who brought her to the United States (although it would inevitably happen) and as a duo, for many years, they were a major brand in the world of cinema. Aside from any personal issues between them, even though Tom isn’t called ‘Nicole Kidman’s ex-husband’, she certainly is his equal today. Having him reinforce and acknowledge her size (literally, she’s over 5’7) would be very powerful. It would complete a cycle!

It won’t happen, unfortunately. But dreaming doesn’t cost anything!

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