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Nicole Kidman at the 2024 Governors Awards© Steve Granitz

Nicole Kidman addresses the viral meme that's been linked to her Tom Cruise divorce for years

The meme shows Kidman with her arms spread open, embracing the sunlight.


Maria Loreto
Senior Writer
NOVEMBER 19, 2024 12:22 PM EST

Nicole Kidman is clearing the air and addressing one of her funniest and most iconic memes. In a new interview, Kidman discussed various topics, including her career, and a meme that has long been linked to her divorce from Tom Cruise in 2001.

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise promoting 'Eyes Wide Shut'© Leonardo Cendamo
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in 1999

Kidman was interviewed by British GQ, where she was asked about the meme and if she knew about it. The interviewer then shared the internet's theories, where people believe that the jubilant image of Kidman walking towards the sunlight was taken shortly after she finalized her divorce from Cruise. 

Sadly, it appears like the meme is not real. 

“That’s not true,” said Kidman, revealing that the photo was taken while she was shooting a movie. 

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“That was not me,” she said. “That was from a film. That wasn’t real life. I know that image!”

Kidman and Cruise had one of the most notorious celebrity marriages of the '90s. The two first met while shooting the film "Days of Thunder" and married shortly after. She was only 23 years old, a fact that she's addressed more recently.

“I was so young when I got married,” said Kidman in 2016 in an interview with Red Magazine. “I look back now and I’m like, ‘What?'”

Through their relationship, the couple collaborated on various films, including "Far and Away" and "Eyes Wide Shut." They also adopted two kids: Isabella and Connor.  

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise© Steve.Granitz
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise

Kidman also addresses two of her most famous memes

Kidman addressed other popular memes of hers, including a video of herself clapping with only her palms.

“I had a massive heavy borrowed ring on and it was really painful, and I was scared of wrecking the jewelry,” she said laughing. “There’s always something behind the actual images that go out there, right?”

She also discussed the meme that was born out of her partnership with AMC theaters, which came out after the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging people to return to theaters. 

"'Heartbreak feels good in a place like this,'" she said, referencing her now iconic ad and proudly embracing it.

"But I'll do anything for cinema, so you can meme me as much as you want."

Keith Urban, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, Sybella Hawley, and Nicole Kidman© Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Nicole Kidman is now married to Keith Urban. They share two daughters: Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret