Nicole Kidman is now happily immersed in her fairy-tale marriage with Keith Urban, but her journey in love has not always been a storybook romance.

It’s easy to overlook the fact that she was once married to Tom Cruise for eleven years, from 1990 to 2001, and their tumultuous divorce dominated tabloid headlines.

posterposter While the years have softened the edges of their breakup, the details of their relationship’s unraveling continue to surface, providing new insights into Kidman’s emotional journey.

Kidman recently shared one of the most emotionally charged moments of her illustrious career, a moment that marked arguably her greatest triumph amid a storm of turmoil and sadness.

Fans of the actress are likely aware that the finalization of Cruise and Kidman’s divorce occurred just before she won an Oscar in 2003 for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

Cruise and Kidman had solidified their status as one of Hollywood’s power couples over the previous decade, adopting two children – Isabella, 31, and Connor, 28. Unfortunately, after 11 years, their marriage crumbled.

The couple eventually divorced, but the timing could not have been worse for Kidman. Nominated for an Academy Award after starring in The Hours, her divorce from Cruise overshadowed what should have been a career highlight.

Despite winning the Oscar, her first and only to date, Kidman has since revealed that her moment of glory was tainted by the personal struggles she was facing.

In a conversation with author Dave Karger for his new book 50 Oscar Nights, as reported by People, Kidman expressed, “I went home and ended up ordering takeout and eating it on the floor of the Beverly Hills Hotel. I sat on the floor of the hotel eating French fries and a burger with my family and went to bed. That’s when it hit me. I went, I need to find my love; I need a love in my life. Because this is supposed to be when you go, ‘This is ours.’”

She continued, “I went to bed alone; I was in bed before midnight. If I ever won again, I’m telling you, I’d be out for 24 hours.”

Fortunately, Kidman’s story took a positive turn. Five years after her divorce from Cruise, the now 56-year-old actress exchanged vows with Keith Urban. The couple, who celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary last year, is proud parents to two daughters, Sunday Rose, 14, and Faith Margaret, 12.