Nicole Kidman honoured with 49th AFI Life Achievement Award

Star-studded attendees included Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon and Naomi Watts.

Nicole Kidman graced the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Life Achievement Awards Gala on Saturday night, formally taking her place among Hollywood royalty as the 49th recipient of the award.

Many A-listers, including Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon, and Naomi Watts, gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to celebrate Kidman’s achievement.

Nicole Kidman with fellow “Big Little Lies” actor Reese Witherspoon (Courtesy: Getty Images)

Clad in a dazzling gold sequined gown, Kidman's entrance was met with a standing ovation, while Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend” played in the background.

Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep (Courtesy: Getty Images)

The ceremony kicked off with a pre-recorded video featuring Freeman – a fellow Life Achievement honouree himself in 2011 – in a spoof of Kidman's recent AMC Theatres ad campaign. 

Freeman reworked the original tagline, “Somehow, she makes even heartbreak feel good in a place like this,” offering a nod to Kidman’s influence on the big screen. 

He also spoke about the “Big Little Lies” actor and her career.

Morgan Freeman speaking at AFI Life Achievement Awards 2024 (Courtesy: AP)

Watts was full of praise for Kidman, calling her the “sister [she] never had,” further highlighting her generosity and saying she has the “heart of a lioness.”

Naomi Watts speaking at AFI Life Achievement Awards 2024 (Courtesy: AP)

The “Expats” actor took the stage to express her gratitude. She thanked the countless directors who have shaped her journey, from Baz Luhrmann and Jane Campion to Sofia Coppola and Lars von Trier. 

The ceremony served as a showcase of Kidman's various roles, from Satine in Baz Luhrmann's “Moulin Rouge,” to her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry's “The Hours,” – which earned her an Academy Award in 2002. 

Kidman’s husband, musician Keith Urban, also paid a tribute to his wife’s career at the event.

Keith Urban speaking at AFI Life Achievement Awards 2024 (Courtesy: AP)