Had it not been for her true acting talent, Nicole Kidman may have simply been brushed off as "Tom Cruise's wife." But Kidman has proven that she's more than a would-be actress or trophy spouse by snagging rave reviews from critics and film heavyweights such as Dustin Hoffman and famed director Stanley Kubrick.

Kidman was born in Hawaii and lived in the United States until age 4, when her family moved to Sydney, Australia. As a child, she took classes in dance, mime and drama, and was encouraged by instructors to continue her interest in theater. "She just stood out as having incredible facility for making things seem immediate and real," one of Kidman's early drama teachers told Premiere magazine.

In 1983, Kidman made her television debut in "Bush Christmas," an Australian holiday favorite. She reached American screens six years later in "Dead Calm."

"Dead Calm" best described the film's box-office reception, but Kidman's performance wowed many in the film business, and she soon co-starred in "Days of Thunder" with future husband Tom Cruise.

Kidman continued to beef up her acting profile with roles in "Billy Bathgate" and "Far and Away," but there was speculation that her career would be overshadowed by her already immensely famous husband.

"I had a strong sense of who I was," the actress told Premiere magazine, "but in an industry where it's all based on how much your latest movie made, you'd be at a party and the whole conversation would be directed at him; even though you're both sitting there, nobody makes eye contact with you."