20 Throwback Portraits of a Young and Beautiful Nicole Kidman in the 1980s

Nicole Kidman (born June 29, 1967) is an Australian and American actress and producer. Known for her work in film and television productions across many genres, she has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses since the late 1990s. Her accolades include an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, and six Golden Globe Awards.

Kidman’s career in the 1980s was primarily in Australian film and television, where she quickly rose to prominence before making her international breakthrough at the end of the decade.

In 1983, 16-year-old Kidman made her film debut in a remake of the Australian holiday classic Bush Christmas. The same year, she had a supporting role in the TV series Five Mile Creek and appeared in the action comedy BMX Bandits, which is often cited as her first memorable step in acting.

Throughout the mid-1980s, Kidman continued to build her resume with roles in various Australian films like Windrider (1986) and television programs. She began gaining significant recognition in Australia with her role in the 1987 miniseries Vietnam, for which she won her first Australian Film Institute Award. She followed this with another Australian Film Institute Award for her performance in Emerald City (1988).

Kidman then starred alongside Sam Neill in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm as Rae Ingram, the wife of a naval officer who is menaced by a castaway at sea, played by Billy Zane. The film proved to be her breakthrough role, one of the first films for which she gained international recognition. Regarding her performance, Variety commented how “throughout the film, Kidman is excellent. She gives the character of Rae real tenacity and energy.” Meanwhile, critic Roger Ebert noted the excellent chemistry between the leads, stating, “Kidman and Zane do generate real, palpable hatred in their scenes together.”

Kidman followed that up with the Australian miniseries Bangkok Hilton before moving on to star alongside her then-boyfriend and future ex-husband, Tom Cruise, in the 1990 sports action film Days of Thunder, as a young doctor who falls in love with a NASCAR driver. It was considered her international breakout film and was among the year’s highest-grossing films.