The Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, the body behind France's César Awards, has announced that Nicole Kidman will receive an honorary César at the 52nd ceremony, scheduled for 25 February 2027 at the Olympia in Paris. The award, often described as the French equivalent of an Oscar, is the country's highest film distinction.
In a joint statement with broadcaster Canal+, the academy praised Kidman as "a performer and producer who has never allowed fame to steer the work she chooses." The honor recognizes not only her acting career but also her work behind the camera through her production company, Blossom Films.
A career spanning decades and continents
Kidman first gained international attention in 1989 with the thriller Dead Calm, and went on to star in a wide range of films, including Days of Thunder, Practical Magic, Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge!, The Others, and Dogville. Her performance as Virginia Woolf in The Hours earned her the Oscar for Best Actress in 2003, and in 2024 she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for Babygirl.
Beyond her film roles, Kidman has been a prominent figure in television, starring in and producing series such as Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and Nine Perfect Strangers. Her work on Big Little Lies earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
Kidman's accolades also include being named a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2006, receiving the Cannes Film Festival's 70th anniversary prize in 2017, and being honored by the American Film Institute in 2024 with its Lifetime Achievement Award, making her the first Australian to receive that distinction.
Off screen, Kidman has served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 1994 and for UN Women since 2006. She has also helped raise millions of dollars for women's cancer programs, including at Stanford and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
The honorary César places Kidman among a distinguished list of international figures who have received the award, which has previously gone to figures such as Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, and Catherine Deneuve. The ceremony will take place at the Olympia, a historic Parisian venue, and will be broadcast by Canal+.
Kidman's recognition comes at a time when French cinema is navigating its own challenges, from ongoing student protests to broader debates about cultural funding and the role of streaming platforms. The Césars have also faced scrutiny over diversity and representation, making the choice of an international star like Kidman a notable statement about the global appeal of French cinema.
As the ceremony approaches, the focus will be on celebrating not just Kidman's body of work, but also the enduring ties between Hollywood and the European film industry. With her dual role as actress and producer, Kidman exemplifies a model of creative control that many in the industry are increasingly embracing.
