Nicole Kidman consigned her latest Oscars appearance to history as she prepared to leave Los Angeles on Monday, amid claims her ex-husband Tom Cruise boycotted the ceremony because she was attending.
The Australian actress dressed down in a pink T-shirt and loose fitting white jeans while boarding a private jet with country star Keith Urban – her second husband.
The couple were accompanied by a pilot as they ferried their belongings from the rear of a car and into the plane’s fuselage before finally climbing onboard.
Less than 24-hours earlier, Kidman, 55, was putting in a rather more glamorous appearance at LA venue Dolby Theatre, where she joined a star-studded guest list at the 95th annual Academy Awards.
With a team of assistants awkwardly looking on from the sidelines, the actress was seen sharing a prolonged red carpet kiss with Urban, 55, while posing for photographers outside the venue.
She’s off: Nicole Kidman consigned her latest Oscars appearance to history as she prepared to leave Los Angeles aboard a private jet on Monday
In good company: Nicole was joined by country star Keith Urban – her second husband
Smitten: Less than 24-hours earlier Kidman and Urban were putting in a rather more glamorous appearance at the 95th annual Academy Awards
But her very obvious attendance was overshadowed by the surprising absence of Cruise, Kidman’s ex-husband and Hollywood golden boy after ‘saving the industry’ with the release of runaway success Top Gun: Maverick.
Cruise’s movie – a sequel to the 1987 box office hit Top Gun – was nominated for six awards, including the coveted Best Picture Award.
But insiders said the actor was not at the ceremony due to his ex-wife being there – following their bitter divorce over 20 years ago.
Cruise and Kidman split in 2001, reportedly due to her refusal to join him in the Church of Scientology.
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘Tom was not there because she was there, and he did not want a run-in.’
Helping hand: The couple were accompanied by a pilot as they ferried their belongings from the rear of a car and into the plane’s fuselage before finally climbing onboard
Don’t mind me: But Urban was hard to miss as he idled behind the wheel of their car on Monday
Let’s go: A casually dressed Kidman was seen boarding the plane of their departure from LA
However, sources close to Cruise claimed his absence was ‘not personal’ and was nothing more than scheduling difficulties, though they did not reply specifically to the claim that it was connected to Kidman’s presence.
Kidman – who walked Oscars red carpet with her country singer husband before packing on serious PDA during the show – was notably absent from an Oscars luncheon that was attended by her Scientologist ex last month.
Cruise was seen embracing Steven Spielberg during the February 13 luncheon, as the director was heard on video telling he action star that Maverick had ‘saved Hollywood’s a**’ by bringing audiences back to theaters.
His ex-wife, with whom he shares two children – Connor, 28, and Isabella, 30 – was notably absent from that event.
Close: The actress shared a prolonged red carpet kiss with Urban at the Oscars on Sunday
Happier times: Cruise and Kidman (pictured in 1992) divorced in 2001 after 12 years of marriage amid rumours his commitment his Scientology drove a wedge between them
