14/04/2026
Dying to meet Nicole Kidman? She's keen to start training to become a Death Doula.
Speaking at the University of San Fransisco, she's told the crowd that “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there was only so much the family could provide.”
“Between my sister and I, we have so many children and our careers and our work, and wanting to take care of her because my father wasn’t in the world anymore,” she said. “And that’s when I went, ‘I wish there was these people in the world that were there to sit impartially and just provide solace and care.’"
She continued, "There’s so much emphasis put on birth, but not so much on death. As part of my expansion, I’d love to learn that role. I think it’s an important part of our culture; loneliness is a big part of our world now, particularly for people in that stage of life. I want to be there. I want to be able to provide."
So, what is a death doula?
First and foremost, it’s someone comfortable talking about death and dying. It’s someone who offers non-medical support to a person moving towards their end-of-life, and their families. They provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support to people with life-limiting illnesses.
They bridge the gap between the dying and their families or partners, their carers, their medicos, their community. It’s someone who helps their client get prepared for their death, be it six months away or six hours: holding their hand, explaining things, accompanying them to appointments, navigating the health system, decluttering their house, assisting with the preparation of Advance Care Directives and funeral planning, or simply being there if there is no one else is. The job description is very varied!
There's more in my blog in the comments. I've also linked the details of the talk from the Uni.
xLisa
