Nicole Kidman has shared that she was advised against marrying her first husband, Tom Cruise, at the age of 23, fearing it would negatively impact her career. The couple, who met on the set of "Days of Thunder" in 1990, became one of Hollywood's most prominent pairings throughout the 1990s. Cruise was already a global star, while Kidman was on the cusp of her breakthrough.
Kidman, now 59, recalled in an interview with British Vogue that she was told her professional life might be eclipsed by her association with such a high-profile figure. "I’m like: 'I don’t care. I’m in love. I want to be married.' And then I was his 'wife' and they were like: 'See, we told you,'" she stated. She added, "I’m like: 'So what? I wasn’t meant to marry the man I love? Of course I’ll throw my career away. I don’t care."
During their more than decade-long marriage, Kidman and Cruise adopted two children, Bella, now 33, and Connor, now 31. The couple divorced in 2001. Cruise had previously been married to actress Mimi Rogers, who introduced him to Scientology.
Kidman and Cruise also starred together in the films "Far and Away" (1992) and "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999). Following their separation, Connor and Bella reportedly remained with their father and continued their involvement with the Church of Scientology, a faith to which Kidman does not belong. While they have been seen less frequently with their mother since the divorce, both children were present at Kidman's 2006 wedding to Keith Urban, with Bella serving as a bridesmaid and Connor as an usher.
In a 2018 interview, Kidman described her relationship with her two older children as "very private." She emphasized their autonomy, stating, "They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it’s my job to love them."