Among the well-known guests were Naomi Watts, Reese Witherspoon, Morgan Freeman, and Meryl Streep.
Nicole Kidman officially assumed her place among Hollywood royalty on Saturday night at the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Life Achievement Awards Gala, becoming the 49th recipient of the honor.
Several A-listers, including Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Reese Witherspoon, and Naomi Watts, gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to celebrate Kidman’s accomplishment.
Kidman arrived to a standing ovation while Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” played in the background. She was wearing a stunning gold sequined gown. A pre-recorded film that included Freeman, a fellow Life Achievement honoree in 2011, parodying Kidman’s most recent AMC Theatres advertising campaign, opened the event. A tribute to Kidman’s impact on the big screen, Freeman altered the original tagline, “Somehow, she makes even heartbreak feel good in a place like this.”
He also talked about the actress from “Big Little Lies” and her career.
Calling Kidman the “sister [she] never had,” Watts exalted in her generosity and declared that she has the “heart of a lioness.”
The star of “Expats” stepped up to thank everyone. She thanked all of the directors who have influenced her career, including Sofia Coppola, Lars von Trier, Baz Luhrmann, and Jane Campion.
Kidman’s many roles were showcased during the presentation, including her depiction of Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s “The Hours,” which won her an Academy Award in 2002, and Satine in Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge.”
Keith Urban, the singer married to Kidman, also honored his wife’s profession at the occasion.