🔮 The witches are back. In September 2026, Nicole Kidman stepped back into the boots of wild-child Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2 — 28 years after the 1998 original charmed its way into cult status.
It’s the perfect moment to look at her journey. From Australia’s golden girl to Oscar winner to one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, Kidman’s transformation is pure magic in itself. ✨
🌟 Then: The Bewitching Nineties (1998)
In 1998, a 31-year-old Nicole Kidman played Gillian Owens, the rebellious, free-spirited half of the Owens sisters. Gillian was the yin to Sally’s yang — impulsive, passionate, and utterly unforgettable.
At the time, Kidman was deep in her first Hollywood era. She had married co-star Tom Cruise in 1990 after meeting him on Days of Thunder, and together they were the biggest power couple on the planet.
Her résumé already sparkled: Batman Forever (1995), the Golden Globe-winning To Die For (1995), and Stanley Kubrick’s intense Eyes Wide Shut (1999), in which she starred opposite Cruise.
Back then she was known as the strikingly beautiful Australian import — the one with the porcelain skin and the unmistakable mane of strawberry-blonde hair. Casting directors saw glamour; audiences were about to see so much more.
🎬 Middle: Oscar Gold and New Beginnings (2001–2020)
Everything changed in 2001. Kidman’s dazzling turn as Satine in Moulin Rouge! earned her first Oscar nomination — and proved she could sing, dance, and break hearts in a single frame.
Then came The Hours (2002). Wearing a prosthetic nose and disappearing into Virginia Woolf, she delivered the performance of her career and won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 2003 ceremony. 🏆
Her personal life shifted dramatically too. Her marriage to Cruise ended in 2001, and in 2006 she married country star Keith Urban in Sydney. They welcomed two daughters: Sunday Rose (2008) and Faith Margaret (2010).
While raising her family, she also built a production empire. She founded Blossom Films in 2010 and became a force behind the camera — championing complex roles for women.
The masterstroke was Big Little Lies (2017–2019). As Celeste Wright, the elegant mother hiding a violent marriage, she was devastating. She won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress — and shared the producing Emmy too.
She starred alongside Reese Witherspoon in that powerhouse cast, proving their on-screen chemistry was as real as it looked. 📺
By 2024, Hollywood gave her its ultimate stamp: the AFI Life Achievement Award — making her the first Australian ever to receive it. Not bad for a girl from Sydney who started out in a 1983 family film called Bush Christmas.
✨ Now: The Witch Returns (2026)
At 59, Nicole Kidman isn’t slowing down — she’s circling back. In Practical Magic 2, she reunites with Sandra Bullock as the Owens sisters, this time fighting to break the family curse threatening the next generation.
The sequel, directed by Susanne Bier, hit theaters on September 11, 2026. Critics were split (around 36% on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences adored it — a 91% audience score — and it pulled in over $100 million worldwide.
Kidman’s Gillian got some of the film’s biggest laughs, with reviewers singling out her scenes with Bullock as the sequel’s true magic. Some things never change. 😉
Her recent run has been relentless: the thriller Babygirl (2024), Netflix’s The Perfect Couple (2024), the Prime Video thriller Holland (2025), and season two of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers (2025).
Off screen, 2026 brought a major personal change: her divorce from Keith Urban was finalized in January, ending their nearly 20-year marriage. She rang in the new year in Australia with her daughters, keeping the focus firmly on family. 💛
After a frantic 2024 — when she admitted, “I was much more out there last year” — Kidman had planned to slow down. But the lure of reuniting with her sister-witch was clearly too strong to resist.
From Gillian Owens at 31 to Gillian Owens at 59 — nearly three decades later, Nicole Kidman is still casting the same spell. 🧙♀️
❓ Quick Answers
How old is Nicole Kidman in 2026?
She is 59. Born June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, she celebrated her 59th birthday in June 2026.
Who does Nicole Kidman play in Practical Magic 2?
She reprises her 1998 role as Gillian Owens, the wild, free-spirited younger Owens sister, opposite Sandra Bullock as Sally. The film released in theaters on September 11, 2026.
Did Practical Magic 2 do well?
Critics were divided (about 36% on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences loved it (91% audience score). It earned roughly $67 million domestically and over $100 million worldwide against a $75 million budget.
What did Nicole Kidman win her Oscar for?
Best Actress for playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours (2002), awarded at the 2003 Oscars. She’s been nominated five times in total, most recently for Being the Ricardos (2021).
Are Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban still together?
No. Kidman filed for divorce in September 2025 citing irreconcilable differences, and the divorce was finalized in January 2026, ending their nearly 20-year marriage. They share two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret.
What are Nicole Kidman’s latest projects?
Beyond Practical Magic 2 (2026), she starred in Holland (2025) and Nine Perfect Strangers season two (2025), and is developing the Prime Video series Girls and Their Horses as a producer and star.
How many children does Nicole Kidman have?
Four. With ex-husband Tom Cruise she adopted Bella (born 1992) and Connor (born 1995); with Keith Urban she has daughters Sunday Rose (born 2008) and Faith Margaret (born 2010).