Nicole Kidman’s incredible act of kindness on the Oscars red carpet as she shares the spotlight with her “friend’s son” who just got his big break in Hollywood
Nicole Kidman offered an up-and-coming Australian actor the chance of a lifetime by letting him walk the Oscars red carpet with her on Sunday.
Demonstrating why she’s known as one of Hollywood’s kindest stars, Nicole arrived at the Dolby Theater on Monday with Sydney-born Sam Rechner, 21, who recently made his Hollywood debut in Stephen Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans.
Sam plays high school bully Logan Hall in the coming-of-age movie, which was nominated for Best Picture but lost to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Nicole, 55, whose official chaperone was her husband, country music star Keith Urban, held hands with Sam on the champagne carpet as curious reporters questioned them about their unlikely friendship.
“This is Sam, who is my best friend’s son since we were four years old and he is at The Fabelmans,” Nicole told a Canadian outlet. eTalk.
Speaking to Sunrise reporter Sonia Kruger at the awards, Nicole praised Sam for “earning her way onto the Oscars carpet.”
Sam also joked that he was the ‘doppelgänger’ of Nicole’s husband Keith, 55, who was also seen arm in arm with his wife at the lavish ceremony.
While Sam may not be a household name yet, he does have some well-connected relatives.
Nicole Kidman (centre) offered up-and-coming Australian actor Sam Rechner, 21, (right) the chance of a lifetime by allowing him to walk the Oscars red carpet with her and husband Keith Urban (left) on Sunday.
Sam made his Hollywood debut in Stephen Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans, playing high school bully Logan Hall. The film was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Sam is the nephew of Australian television power couple Peter Overton and Jessica Rowe.
‘[Peter and Jessica] they are the first people I would consult on how to pursue that aspiration and what to do and what not to do,’ Sam recently told Sydney’s daily telegraph.
‘Pete has been my biggest support. We have a very similar way of behaving in that we have a lot of self-criticism, which keeps us wanting to push ourselves and keep working hard.’
Nicole and Peter have been good friends since growing up in Longueville, a suburb on Sydney’s lower north shore, in the 1970s.
Sam joins an impressive cast for The Fabelmans, including Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, and Seth Rogan. His only other acting credit is the 2022 film Ruby’s Choice.
“This is Sam, who is my best friend’s son since we were four years old and he is in The Fabelmans,” Nicole told ETalk news outlet. She also invited Sam to speak with Sunrise reporter Sonia Kruger.
Sam also joked that he was the ‘doppelgänger’ of Nicole’s husband, Keith Urban.