With its ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and sweeping panoramic views of the London skyline, it is no surprise that Hampstead Heath has long been a sought-after location for Hollywood filmmakers.
Scenes from Notting Hill were shot here and films from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to the latest Bridget Jones movie have seen Londoners rub shoulders with celebrities across its nearly 800 acres.
But this summer, anyone lucky enough to spot one of Hollywood’s biggest stars jogging around the North London park could not have known she was there for a rather different reason.
Nicole Kidman, who was in the UK to film her latest project, the long-awaited sequel to her 1998 hit Practical Magic, had taken to running around the park to let off steam.
There were also walks there with daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, who flew into Britain from their home in Nashville to be with their mother during the school holidays.
Indeed, I’m told the heath became something of a sanctuary for Nicole, 58.
And what no one knew then was that the Australian actress was nursing a broken heart. Shortly before she arrived in the UK in July, she had begun the process of separating from her husband of 19 years, country singer Keith Urban.
Reports vary on the reason for their split and, indeed, who made the ultimate decision to separate. But what is certain is that this period in London marked a seismic moment in her life – she knew that, when she returned to Nashville at the end of filming, life as she knew it would change.
Nicole Kidman went to the Wimbledon men’s final in July, where she sat next to ex-Vogue editor Anna Wintour
Kidman was wearing her engagement ring at the games in July
We are told, in various reports, that Nicole feels ‘hurt and betrayed’ and is ‘devastated and shocked’ by the split, having fought to save the marriage.
My source, who was familiar with Nicole’s stay in London, tells me: ‘Nobody knew she had split up with Keith so she must have been putting a very brave face on it.
‘She was busy getting out to filming locations most days but she made sure she did her very best to enjoy herself. Now we know why.’
I revealed in August that Nicole had rented the home of 1980s pop star Boy George for her stay – a Grade II-listed mansion which overlooks the heath. It was the ideal spot for filming at the Warner Bros studios in Hertfordshire and Worcester Park in Surrey.
The house, which costs £65,000 a month to rent, has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a cinema, a roof terrace and a meditation room. But it is also perfectly situated for the West End, where Nicole would visit upmarket Japanese restaurant Nobu.
Her stay also coincided with the Wimbledon men’s final in July where she sat next to ex-Vogue editor Anna Wintour and mingled with stars such as Keira Knightley and Paul Mescal.
Despite her marriage being over, she was still wearing her engagement and wedding rings, presumably to avoid premature speculation.
‘She appeared happy and jolly when she was in London,’ says my source. ‘She was working hard but she had a lot of time to herself too. The weather was beautiful, London had a great summer, so it must have cheered her up a lot.
Katie Hind can reveal that Kidman’s split with Keith Urban happened suddenly
‘There are fewer places as idyllic as Hampstead Heath to regroup. Plus, Nicole’s daughters were around, so they did lots together like visiting landmarks and chilling out in Hampstead.
‘Nicole made the best of her trip to London – that’s for sure. It was the place where she was mending her broken heart.’ I’m also told the star was relieved to be living close to fellow Australian actress Isla Fisher, who has a house in Hampstead she shares with her three children from her former marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen.
Work, too, would have helped. Nicole is known for throwing herself into her career and, in reprising her role as witch Gillian Owens for Practical Magic 2, she will have been reunited with Sandra Bullock, who plays her sister Sally.
‘Nicole and Sandra have been friends for so many years,’ says one movie industry insider. ‘It must have been very comforting for Nicole to have had her there every day she went to work.
‘They were filming most things together so she had someone there who she knows and trusts.’
Filming on the project finished on September 13 and on Monday – after Nicole had returned to the farm she and Keith share with their daughters in Nashville – the news emerged that the couple had decided to go their separate ways.
By the following day, it was announced Nicole had filed for divorce, citing their ‘irreconcilable differences’. Divorce papers indicate they have already agreed custody arrangements, with both waiving any spousal support and child support, each indicating they will retain their own assets.
Sources suggest that the news was leaked as the couple knew their divorce papers were about to emerge in court. They also note it was easier to deal with the inevitable media storm after Nicole had finished her work.
‘It was like Nicole had to go home and face the music, the devastation of her marriage ending, when she finished filming,’ mused my insider. ‘It was like it was the end of the summer and then it was back to real life.’
The split appears to have happened suddenly, I can reveal.
On June 20, a mere three months earlier, the pair attended the Fifa Club World Cup match between Los Angeles FC and Espérance de Tunis in Nashville.
Five days later, when Nicole was in London for pre-production meetings, she posted on Instagram to wish Keith a happy anniversary, where she referred to him as ‘baby’ and used a heart emoji. The message accompanied a photo of Nicole leaning on his shoulder.
I understand the actress flew back to the US before filming formally began on July 18 – by which time she and Keith had split.
I’m told that while eyebrows were raised that Keith didn’t fly into London to join her, it was quickly written off because he was on his High And Alive tour throughout, travelling around the US before moving on to Australia.
Since then, of course, he has been linked to a 25-year-old guitarist. Indeed, the chatter surrounding the split is that it was due to Keith’s alleged ‘behaviour’.
What the truth is no one really knows. But in nursing her heartache so secretly, Nicole has put on the performance of her life.
