Why Nicole Kidman's Oscar win was her 'symbol of loneliness'

Nicole Kidman won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2003. Photo / Getty

It's the moment every actor dreams of, but for Nicole Kidman, her sole Academy Award win is a bitter memory.

The actress made the startling admission during a Q&A session at the BFI Film Festival, revealing that her Best Actress win at the 2003 awards for her work in The Hours came during a period of intense loneliness.

Nicole Kidman. Photo / Getty

"Winning the Oscar was a turning point, but not in terms of my life as an actor, because it was incredibly validating, but it actually symbolised loneliness to me because I didn't have anyone to share it with at that stage in my life," she said.

"I was like, 'Wow, this means I need to get my act together and I want to fall in love' so it was weird."

While the award win was arguably Kidman's professional peak, it came during a time of deep unrest in her personal life.

Actress Nicole Kidman and musician Keith Urban arrive at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles. Photo / Getty

The star had split from husband Tom Cruise in 2001, and it wasn't until 2006 that she'd marry again, wedding fellow Aussie and country music star Keith Urban.

The couple have two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith.

The 49-year-old is again gaining Oscar buzz, this time for her role in the new Australian film Lion.

Musician Keith Urban (L) and actress Nicole Kidman celebrate in the audience during the People's Choice Awards 2010 held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Photo / Getty

The actress suffered something of a wardrobe malfunction at the film's London premiere, walking the red carpet in a daring dress with a very high split that she seemed to struggle with at times.

Lion is based on a true story of a five-year-old Indian boy who falls asleep on a train to end up lost, before being adopted by an Australian couple, played by Kidman and fellow Australian David Wenham.

On the red carpet Kidman said the film was about the "essence of mothers and mothering" and "how that bond can be formed and once it's formed it can't be broken".