Women in the World conference...

Nicole Kidman has said that her divorce from Tom Cruise was the best thing that happened for her career.

Speaking in London on Friday at the Women In The World conference (WITW), the award-winning actress said the break-down of her marriage meant that she focused her attention on her job.
However, she also admitted it was one of the loneliest times of her life.

Nicole Kidman spoke about Tom Cruise at the Women in the World Summit in London. Photo: AP

 
"I was holding a gold statue and I was the loneliest I'd ever been."

Interviewed on stage by Tina Brown, the WITW founder, Kidman also touched on her nine-year marriage with Keith Urban, a singer. She said: "We didn't really know each other - we got to know each other during our marriage."

Talking about her latest project, playing Rosalind Franklin, the DNA scientist, in Anna Ziegler's play Photograph 51, Kidman revealed she wept when she first read the script.

"I believe in Rosalind being celebrated and I wanted to put her back in the conversation and dialogue beyond the scientific community," she said. Now in its seventh year, the WITW conference aims to give a platform to global women "who are saving lives, enriching communities and shattering glass ceilings".

This year's line-up included Meryl Streep, the actress, Cara Delevingne, the model, and Leymah Gbowee, the Nobel Peace laureate, among others.

Happier times: Nicole Kidman with former husband Tom Cruise.