Nicole Kidman will honor the man who launched her incredible career by sponsoring an award for emerging actors.
The Hollywood star, 56, has initiated and funded the Brian Walsh Award, which will be presented to the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).
Walsh, a legend in the Australian entertainment industry and executive director of Foxtel, died in March at the age of 68.
AACTA said this week that the Brian Walsh Award for Emerging Talent is “a prestigious award aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of Australian actors”.
The award rewards the innovation, dedication and passion of actors who are still in the early stages of their careers.
Nicole Kidman, 56, (pictured) will honor the man who launched her amazing career by sponsoring an award for emerging actors
The winners will receive support and exposure to the Australian television and film landscape to help them with their career development.
They will also receive $50,000, which will be deposited by Kidman.
Kidman said Walsh “played an important and influential role” in the careers of many, including her own.
The Hollywood star has initiated and funded the Brian Walsh Award, which will be presented to the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)
“I considered him family and for that reason I approached AACTA with the intention of creating a legacy in his name worthy of Brian’s long and substantial career,” she said.
Kidman shared a long-standing friendship with Walsh, beginning in the infancy of her career when she worked on the critically acclaimed Vietnam (1987) and Bangkok Hilton (1989).
Walsh died unexpectedly of an undisclosed medical episode in Sydney on March 16, leaving behind a legacy of incredible achievements in the Australian media industry.
Walsh, a legend in the Australian entertainment industry and executive director of Foxtel, died in March at the age of 68
Crowds filled St Mary’s Cathedral for his funeral, including celebrities Richard Wilkins, Eddie McGuire and Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch.
AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said the organization is incredibly grateful for Kidman’s contribution.
“Nicole’s longstanding friendship with Brian and her unwavering support for emerging talent embody the spirit of this award,” he said.
“This award not only celebrates the dedication and passion of emerging actors, but also symbolizes a commitment to shaping the future of the Australian film industry.”
AACTA said this week that the Brian Walsh Award for Emerging Talent is ‘a prestigious award aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of Australian actors’
Kidman will donate $50,000 to the winners of the Brian Walsh Award