Nicole Kidman pays tribute to late mother Janelle Ann Kidman after her sudden passing

Actress Nicole Kidman has paid a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, after her sudden passing. Kidman, 57, was absent from the Toronto premiere of her film "Babygirl" and the Venice Film Festival due to a family emergency.

"My sister and I along with our family want to thank you for the outpouring of love and kindness we have felt this week," Kidman said in a statement via Instagram. "Every message we have received from those who loved and admired our Mother has meant more to us than we will ever be able to express."
 

The news of Janelle's passing was shared by the film's director Halina Reijn at the Venice Film Festival on September 7. Kidman was also absent from the film's North American premiere in Toronto on September 10.

Those close to Kidman expressed their condolences in the comment section, including Lily Rabe, Rose Byrne, Lenny Kravitz, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Naomi Watts.

In a statement read aloud on Kidman's behalf during the Venice Film Festival, Reijn shared that Kidman had flown in to Venice only to find out that her mother had passed away. Kidman said that her mother had shaped her career and guided her, and that she was beyond grateful to have had her in her life.

A rep for Kidman confirmed Janelle's death to PEOPLE, adding that "the family is heartbroken and asks for privacy at this time."

Kidman opened up about how her mother shaped her career in a 2020 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. She said that her mother had given her the fire to pursue her career and had wanted her daughters to have equal opportunities to carve their own paths.

The family has asked for privacy as they grieve the loss of Janelle Ann Kidman.