Nicole Kidman paused her Greek holiday to record a heartfelt video message for the students and staff of Lane Cove Public School in Sydney, congratulating her former primary school on its 150th anniversary — and the gesture quickly captured national attention.
The 59-year-old actress, who attended the school on Sydney’s Lower North Shore during the 1970s, filmed the message from Santorini, Greece, where she was vacationing after a demanding stretch of film and television work. The video was played during an assembly and posted to the school’s social media pages, drawing widespread attention.
Kidman opened the video by greeting viewers from Greece and expressing her wish to attend in person, then offered her congratulations to the school on reaching its 150th year. She went on to reflect warmly on her years there, calling the school formative and expressing enduring gratitude for the friendships it forged.
A Public Invitation That Reached Its Mark
The video came in response to a creative campaign mounted by the school’s students and parents’ committee. Lane Cove Public School posted a clip to Facebook addressed directly to Kidman, inviting the famous alumna to return for the school’s sesquicentennial celebration. The appeal clearly landed. Although Kidman was unable to attend in person, she delivered something the school will not soon forget.
Principal Terry McKinnon said the video arrived late but was greeted with enormous enthusiasm. McKinnon credited the parents’ committee for the inventiveness of the original invitation, noting that the Facebook video had already reached a wide audience before Kidman even replied. He described the school as deeply proud of all its former students, Kidman prominently among them.
Hundreds Gather for the Milestone Celebration
The anniversary festivities drew hundreds of former teachers and alumni to the school grounds for an open day. Among those who showed up in person was Nine News presenter Peter Overton, himself a former student and school captain in 1977. Overton told the assembled crowd he first walked through the school’s gates 55 years ago and carries many happy memories from his time there. He also delivered a message on Kidman’s behalf, telling the audience she had wanted to be present.
Meredith Lucas, one of Kidman’s former classmates, also returned for the celebrations. Lucas attended Lane Cove Public School from 1973 to 1979, from kindergarten through year six, overlapping with Kidman for much of that time. She described the school as a close-knit community where she and Kidman sang together in the choir. Lucas said she has followed Kidman’s career with admiration over the decades, calling her a natural talent who worked hard and came from a strong family and community foundation.
The school, which has been in operation since 1876 and marks its official birthday on January 14, prides itself on its creative arts and music programs — a tradition that appears to have left a lasting impression on at least one of its most celebrated graduates. Kidman had earlier told Network 10 she intended to try to make the celebrations after being invited by students, calling the school’s outreach “the sweetest thing ever.”
A Busy Year on Screen
The anniversary message emerged from what has been an exceptionally productive period for Kidman professionally. The Amazon Prime crime thriller “Scarpetta,” in which she starred as forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta, was released in March 2026. Her Apple TV series “Margo’s Got Money Problems” followed in April 2026. Four additional projects are expected later in the year, including “Practical Magic 2” alongside actress Sandra Bullock, the horror thriller “The Young People,” the A24 drama series “Discretion,” which Kidman will also executive produce, and a return to the Paramount+ series “Lioness” in its third season.
Online Reaction Mixes Warmth With Commentary
While the overwhelming public response to the video centered on its charm and sincerity, a segment of social media users redirected attention toward Kidman’s appearance, speculating about cosmetic procedures and debating a change in her eyebrow color. One user defended the actress warmly, calling her “the most beautiful woman alive on earth today.” The diversion did little to diminish the affection surrounding the original gesture, which resonated far beyond the school’s walls and reminded audiences of a side of the global star: the Sydney schoolgirl who still remembers running around that playground.