Nicole Kidman is absent from the Venice Awards after the death of her mother

Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress award for her performance in “Babygirl” at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday night, but was unable to accept the award due to devastating news.

After Kidman's name was announced, “Babygirl” director Halina Reijn took the stage and delivered a written speech in Kidman's place, revealing that the actress had traveled to Venice to attend the ceremony but had to leave due to news of her mother's death.

“I arrived in Venice today to learn of this, just after the passing of my brave and beautiful mother, Janelle Anne Kidman,” Kidman wrote. “I am in shock and need to be with my family, but this award is for them.”

The statement continued: “She shaped me, she guided me and she created me. I am eternally grateful that through Halina I can say her name to all of you. The collision of life and art is heartbreaking. My heart is broken.”

Kidman's mother was a nursing teacher and a member of the Women's Electoral Lobby, an Australian feminist group.

Kidman was one of the big winners in the acting category on Saturday night, alongside Vincent Lindon, who won best actor for “The Quiet Son,” and Paul Kircher, who received the award for best new actor for his performance in “And Their Children After Them.”

Pedro Almodóvar took home the most prestigious award of the evening, the Golden Lion for Best Film, for his film “The Room Next Door” with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Brady Corbet received the Silver Lion for Best Director for “The Brutalist”.