Academy Award–winning actress Nicole Kidman, as a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, has been actively involved in philanthropic endeavors, of international scope, in both countries.
In January 2006, Nicole Kidman has also taken on the role of Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the women’s agency at the United Nations that is dedicated to advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. As UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador, her efforts will be geared toward raising awareness on the infringement of women’s human rights around the world. A particular focus will lie on putting a spotlight on violence against women, probably the most pervasive human rights violation that affects as many as one in three women. Nicole Kidman will visit initiatives supported by UNIFEM to increase visibility for the efforts underway to end gender-based violence.
Nicole Kidman has served as the UNICEF Ambassador for Australia for the past nine years. She is also an Ambassador of the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. Her commitment, contact with patients and their families, and financial contributions to the hospital have helped make a difference in the lives of thousands of young patients over the past five years, with a direct impact upon the hospital’s Brain Tumor Service, Respiratory Service, the Nursing Practice Development Unit for Child and Adolescent Health, and the Chair of Nursing.
Nicole Kidman first came to the attention of American audiences with her critically acclaimed performance in the riveting 1989 Australian psychological thriller “Dead Calm.” Since then, she has become one of the most sought-after actresses in film the world over. Kidman has received both critical praise and awards for performances in a number of films (shot in countries ranging from Ireland to Spain to Romania to Finland to Australia and the United States), including “Far and Away,” “Portrait of a Lady,” “To Die For,” “The Others,” “Cold Mountain,” “Dogville,” and “Birth.” She received an Oscar nomination in 2002 for “Moulin Rouge” and won the Academy Award for “Best Actress” in 2003 for “The Hours.”
In 2005, Kidman starred with Sean Penn in Sydney Pollack’s thriller (filmed on location at the United Nations), “The Interpreter,” and with Will Ferrell in writer/director Nora Ephron’s comedy feature adaptation of “Bewitched.” She has voiced a role in director George Miller’s (“Babe”) upcoming animated penguin musical, “Happy Feet”; completed filming with Robert Downey Jr. on “Fur,” Steven Shainberg’s imagining of the life of photographer Diane Arbus; and just wrapped filming on director Oliver Hirschbiegel’s (“Downfall”) alien invasion thriller “The Visiting,” with co-star Daniel Craig.
How Nicole Kidman assists UNIFEM:
|
