Omega Celebrated Nicole Kidman’s AFI Lifetime Achievement Award Win in Los Angeles
Each year, the American Film Institute selects a single Hollywood professional to present with its Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious honor for which a number of qualifications for eligibility were determined in 1973; and on Saturday, the organization recognized Nicole Kidman, gathering much of Kidman s family along with a number of her closest friends, colleagues and collaborators for a night of celebrating her most beloved film contributions.
To fete the evening, Omega, the Swiss watch company for which the actor has been an ambassador for 20 years, also joined Kidman in Los Angeles (that is, Omega’s President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann, along with along with friends of the brand). As a token of congratulations, they gifted Kidman a one-of-one 26 mm De Ville Mini Trésor watch in Moonshine™ Gold, which she donned for the evening in tandem with a sparkling gold gown that swept the red carpet.
Inside the ceremony, friends of Kidman, many of whom affectionately referred to the night’s honoree as “Nic” were prepared to take the stage to share tributes of their own. Naomi Watts shared stories of a friendship that started at 15 years old at a casting call, Morgan Freeman reenacted Kidman’s iconic AMC commercial, Reese Witherspoon talked co-directing Big Little Lies, Miles Teller shared what it was like to have Kidman cast him for his first-ever film, and even Mike Myers made a rare appearance, arriving in an Eyes Wide Shut-esque cloak and mask. There was, of course, a loving speech from Kidman’s longtime husband, Keith Urban, who attended alongside their two daughters (Kidman noted it was their first appearance with her at a red carpet event), and more anecdotes followed from Zac Efron, Zoe Saldana, and Joey King, as well as Meryl Streep, who presented her The Hours co-star with the AFI’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the close of the night.
“I’ve been a part of so many families,” Kidman said on stage after fighting back grateful tears at her seat during the tributes. “I’ve had the good fortune to have worked with some of the greatest actors and some of the greatest directors who have not only raised the bar but have also had the ability to raise it so high that we all always learn from them. And a lot of them are in the room tonight.”
The ceremony capped just after 10 P.M., but that wasn’t the end of the night, as an afterparty was planned back at the Sunset Tower Hotel, where Omega had also hosted an intimate bunch of guests for the weekend to unveil its new watch. Shutting down the property’s lounge and poolside terrace for the private event, a bevy of well-dressed individuals, and of course, the leading lady of the hour, stopped by for a few cocktails before ultimately turning in for the night.