Nicole Kidman is in "shock" after her mother died

Nicole, who stars as a business ex ecutive who starts an affair with her younger intern in the film, was not in attendance at its premiere at the event, and the movie's director Halina Reijn read a statement from the actress revealing her mother Janelle had died while she was in Venice.

The statement in full from Nicole said: "Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed.

"I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me, and she made me.

"I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina, the collision of life and art is heart-breaking, and my heart is broken.

"We love you all."

Nicole told the 'Fresh Air' podcast in 2022 her mum was experiencing a string of health issues.

She added they had managed to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales to see the 'Matisse: Life and Spirit; exhibition, which she said was like a "soothing balm".

Nicole added at the time: "We're down here primarily to take care of my mother and to have her surrounded by her grandchildren.

"So luckily yesterday, even though Omicron is raging through this country, we were able to take her into the gallery after hours and show her the Matisse exhibit, which coming from a mother who's raised me in the arts, it was soothing balm. Matisse was soothing balm last night."

Nicole added she felt lucky to be able to see the world through her mother's eyes, and described her outlook as "so beneficial".

She said: "I'm at the place where I'm being given the chance to view the world, because of how close we are, my mum is giving me the chance to view the world through an 81-year-old woman's eyes.

"That is so beneficial right now, because she's so cognisant. She has every brain faculty available, so she hasn't lost anything.

"She hasn't lost any memory, which is fascinating, and she's extremely bright.

"She's giving me access, because she's also very direct and very honest, and so I'm getting access to the world through her eyes, my mother's eyes, so therefore a part of me almost at 80."