Nicole Kidman Says That Viral 2001 Meme Has Nothing to Do with Her Divorce from Tom Cruise: 'That Was from a Film’

Mar. 15, 2025

Nicole Kidman on Nov. 11 (left) and in 2001 (right).Photo:Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty; X17

Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty; X17

Meme QueenNicole Kidmanhas set the record straight about an infamous photo.

Asked if there’s any truth to the rumor that the picture was taken after the dissolution of her first marriage, the Australia native — who has been wed to country singerKeith Urbansince 2006 —  told the outlet with a laugh, “That’s not true.”

“That was not me; that was from a film, that wasn’t real life. I know that image!” continued Kidman, who did not name the movie.

Nicole Kidman on Oct. 23.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

The Oscar winner also referenced the GIF showing her clapping with just the palms of her hands at the 2017 Academy Awards.

“I’ve also seen the one where I’m clapping like that,” she said, imitating the move.

“’Cause I had a massive heavy borrowed ring on and it was really painful, and I was scared of wrecking the jewelry. Ha! There’s always something behind the actual images that go out there, right?”

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in 1991.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Kidman said doesn’t mind all the memes that came out of her post-pandemic commercials for AMC movie theaters, urging folks to get back to the cinema.

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“Yeah, yeah. ‘Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.’ But I’ll do anything for cinema, so you can meme me as much as you want,” she said.

“I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being,” Kidman previously toldVanity Fairof the role. “I had to go in and go out like, I need to put my protection back on. ‘What have I just done? Where did I go? What did I do?’ ”

source: people.com