At 58, Nicole Kidman is such a fixture in Hollywood—an Academy Award-winning actor who is constantly on screens big and small, from the addictive The Perfect Couple to the brave and buzzy Babygirl, the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers, and the forthcoming Practical Magic sequel—that it’s difficult to remember a time when she wasn’t.
In the early 1980s, the then relatively unknown Australian teenager, fresh-faced and with a halo of bouncy curls, made her screen debut in the small-town drama Bush Christmas. A flurry of minor roles followed over the next six years, though it took the splashy thriller Dead Calm to launch her into the stratosphere. From there, she raced into Days of Thunder, the NASCAR movie through which she was introduced to Tom Cruise. They married soon after, Kidman entered the A-list, and she went on to conquer the industry with her performances in the likes of To Die For, The Portrait of a Lady, Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge!, The Others, and The Hours.
In honor of Kidman’s birthday today, we present 25 jaw-dropping throwback photos of the actor from this early phase of her more-than-four-decade-long career.
Photo: Getty Images1/251983
A curly-haired, 16-year-old Nicole Kidman looking thoughtful at a photo session in Sydney, following the release of her second feature film, the Australian crime comedy BMX Bandits.
Photo: Getty Images2/251989
A headshot of a 21-year-old Kidman, resplendent in pearls and a power suit. Her breakout moment came later that year, in the tense thriller Dead Calm.
Photo: Getty Images3/251989
With her bouncy curls, red pout, and off-the-shoulder floral top, the actor is the definition of understated ’80s glamour.
Photo: Getty Images4/251990
Newly blonde, Kidman strikes a pose on the set of Days of Thunder, the sports saga that changed her life—and introduced her to her first husband, Tom Cruise.
Photo: Getty Images5/251992
With Cruise at the London premiere of Far and Away, where the pair met Diana, Princess of Wales.
Photo: Getty Images6/251992
Stealing the show with her vampy style at the Los Angeles premiere of Cruise’s A Few Good Men.
- Photo: Getty Images7/25
1993
In a jaunty cap and straight, buttery blonde lengths at the 50th Golden Globe Awards.
Photo: Getty Images8/251993
Delivering her opening monologue as the host of Saturday Night Live.
- Photo: Getty Images9/25
1993
Observing the action at the US Open in big sunglasses and a practical straw topper.
Photo: Getty Images10/251994
With a gothy new look at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
Photo: Getty Images11/251994
Kidman in Central Park with Isabella, her adopted daughter with Cruise.
Photo: Getty Images12/251995
Flaunting her bombshell hair at Cannes ahead of the premiere of To Die For.
Photo: Getty Images13/251995
In a sequin-strewn showstopper at the Los Angeles premiere of Batman Forever, in which she starred as a love interest to Val Kilmer’s Bruce Wayne.
Photo: Getty Images14/251996
Collecting her Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture—musical or comedy for To Die For in a sequined white column gown.
Photo: Getty Images15/251996
The picture of sleek ’90s minimalism at the Premiere Magazine Readers’ Poll Awards in Los Angeles.
Photo: Getty Images16/251996
Twinning with a 20-year-old Kate Winslet at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards at the Savoy Hotel.
Photo: Getty Images17/251997
At the 54th Golden Globe Awards, where she presented the prize for best actress in a motion picture—musical or comedy to Madonna for Evita.
Photo: Getty Images18/251997
At the Oscars with Cruise, in the chartreuse Dior gown by John Galliano which made her a fashion icon and cemented the designer’s reputation as one of the industry’s most formidable talents. It remains one of the most memorable Oscar red carpet dresses of all time.
Photo: Getty Images19/251998
In an angelic two-piece to support Cruise as he received the John Huston Award for Artists’ Rights in Los Angeles.
Photo: Getty Images20/251999
Channelling Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on the streets of New York.
Photo: Getty Images21/251999
At the Venice Film Festival photo call for Eyes Wide Shut.
Photo: Getty Images22/251999
Striking a pose at the Ritz in Paris while promoting Eyes Wide Shut.
Photo: Getty Images23/251999
In a backless co-ord at the Los Angeles premiere of Eyes Wide Shut.
Photo: Getty Images24/252000
Dazzling in gold at the 72nd Oscars.
Photo: Getty Images25/252000
A sleek ponytail and backless top for the Los Angeles premiere of Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 2.
