Nicole Kidman spilled "blood, sweat, and tears" en route to stardom

Nicole, 56 - who was born in Hawaii, but grew up in Sydney, Australia - told 'Extra': "I had a dream of working around the world and I knew I wanted to act. I knew I wanted to act when I was six, seven years old.

"I didn't know I would have the opportunity to do it ... I just pursued it and pursued it."

The award-winning star doesn't have any regrets about her career path. But Nicole has been forced to work tirelessly and make sacrifices in order to achieve her ambitions.

She said: "My mama wrote me this beautiful card that she sent over with my sister saying she's been through it all with me. The phone calls, the devastation, the rejection.

"The highs ... from the Cannes Film Festival when 'Moulin Rouge' suddenly was a massive hit... to the Academy to the Golden Globes to everything. She's been there - and my pop - every step of the way ... So, she put that in the card. And I remember there was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, 'cause it all looks like it was so easy, and it so was not."

Meanwhile, Nicole recently revealed that she has no plans to direct.

The Hollywood star has served as a producer on various projects over the years, but she doesn't think directing is her "strong suit".

She told The Hollywood Reporter: "I feel like I would be a terrible director because I always have so many ideas. A director has to make choices, and that's not my strong suit."