Nicole Kidman has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute (AFI).
She is the first Australian to receive the award and among the youngest recipients.
Upon accepting the honour, the actress thanked those who had helped her career, including listing each of her directors.
“It is a privilege to make films, and glorious to have made the films and television with storytellers who allowed me to just run wild, be free and play all of these unconventional women,” she said.
“Thank you for making me better at my craft and giving me a place, however temporary, in this world.
“Thank you for inviting me to these movie families, and thank you for my childhood dream that became a reality.”
View this post on Instagram
There was a star-studded line-up of speakers including Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman and Reese Witherspoon.
Kidman’s husband Keith Urban also honoured his wife with an emotional tribute. The singer opened up about how Kidman supported him through rehab only a few months after they married.
“Four months into a marriage, I’m in rehab for three months,” Urban said.
“We had no idea what was going to happen to us. And if you want to see what love in action really looks like, give that a whirl.
“Nic pushed through every negative voice — I’m sure even some of her own. And she chose love. And here we are tonight, 18 years later.”
View this post on Instagram
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour bestowed by the AFI.
Previous award winners include actors Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews, Al Pacino, Denzel Washington, George Clooney and directors such as Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Composer John Williams is the only recipient who is not an actor or director.
