Reese Witherspoon Looks Radiant at AFI Award Gala as She Honors Friend Nicole Kidman: 'I Love You So Much'

Reese Witherspoon is stepping out to support her friend Nicole Kidman.

The Oscar winner attended the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, where Kidman was honored as the award’s 2024 recipient.

The 48-year-old looked radiant in a black gown with a plunging neckline and wrap-style skirt that revealed her strappy black heels. She accessorized with gold bangles and stylish earrings that featured pearls and green stones.

She kept her glam simple and classic with her blond locks worn down and straight and natural makeup featuring nude lipstick and a light rosy blush.

Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman and Naomi Watts — all former costars and collaborators of Kidman’s — were all present at the gala, with Witherspoon among those who gave speeches.

In her speech, the Wild actress began by sharing her love and admiration for her friend.

"I love you so much. Before I ever met you, I was your biggest fan, so this is such a fun night," Witherspoon said.

She also described Kidman as, "every bit as talented and gorgeous and sophisticated and elegant as you can possibly imagine."

She continued, "And when you're sitting opposite her watching her work, it is literally mesmerizing. I would have to stop myself sometimes and go, 'Oh my God, that's Nicole Kidman. Oh my God, be profesh, be profesh.' Because I was that blown away."

Elsewhere, Witherspoon talked about Kidman's achievements as an actress and producer and noted that they both wanted to adapt the Liane Moriarty novel Big Little Lies.

"But instead of fighting it out in court or in some sort of televised boxing match in Las Vegas, we decided to team up. Because there's one thing that Nicole knows very, very well, that there's power in collaboration and there's even more power in sisterhood," she explained to the audience, adding, "And that's why I'm here tonight, sister. And I want to thank you for being a friend and being the best colleague ever."

Streep, who is also an AFI Life Achievement Award winner, and Witherspoon both worked with Kidman on HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series Big Little Lies. The duo also both served as executive producers. Watts and Kidman have a years-long friendship and both starred in the 1991 romantic drama Flirting. Freeman and Kidman both starred in the 2023 Paramount series Special Ops: Lioness.

After the season two finale of Big Little Lies in 2019, the fate of a potential third season was left in limbo. Kidman and Witherspoon, as well as fellow cast members Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz, have all expressed their interest in returning.

​​In November 2023, Kidman seemingly confirmed that another season was in the works while taking part in an undisclosed fan event.

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“I loved Big Little Lies because it sort of came along at a time in my life when I had my children, and I was thinking I was going to retire, and then this situation came along, where Reese Witherspoon and I were able to produce that show,” Kidman said. “And then all of you watched it and made it a massive success.”

In January, Kidman told Entertainment Tonight of the highly anticipated third season, “We've got a timeline for it now."

"It's also letting things find their way and I think, you know, the time is... it's now. We're obviously all devastated at the loss of Jean-Marc Vallée," she continued, referencing the first season’s director, who passed away on December 25, 2021. "That made us go, 'Can we move forward?' But Reese [Witherspoon] and I, and all of the other women have decided yes we can."