While at a film festival in Japan Nicole received a call saying that Tom Cruise wanted to meet her for Days Of Thunder. Nicole was to play a young Australian neurologist at the Daytona beach Hospital, who treats an injured race car driver (Tom Cruise) and falls in love with him. Their first public appearance was at the 1990 Acadamy Awards, and Tom finalised his divorce with Mimi Rogers in April, and the couple then got together. Nicole's next movie roles were opposite Dustin Hoffman in Billy Bathgate and as a high school senior in Flirting, both in 1990.

Tom and Nicole married in Telluride, Colarado on December 24th 1990, in a very private ceremony.

In 1992 Nicole and Tom again co-starred in the film Far And Away. In Malice Nic played a femme fatale starring alongside Alec Baldwin and Bill Pullman, and in 1993 played Gail Jones in the comedy-drama My Life. But despite steady employment, the critics and movie-goers weren't sure of Nicole as a leading lady. She changed her image for her role as Dr Chase Meridian in Batman Forever, beating out Sandra Bullock for the role, and acting alongside Jim Carrey, Val Kilmer and Drew Barrymore. She achieved her real breakthrough in To Die For, as a fame-crazed housewife determined to eliminate any obstacle in her path, winning her first Golden Globe Award and several critics award.

After reading the Henry James novel four times, Nicole stepped into a corset for her role as Isabel Archer in the Jane Campion directed The Portrait Of A Lady' in 1996. There was talk of an Oscar nomination for her part, but the critics dismissed the movie as 'absurd'. Exhausted after the filming of 'Portrait Of a Lady', Nicole took six months off. Nicole added 'action star' to her repertoire as she starred in The Peacemaker', 1997, with George Clooney, playing a nuclear weapons expert. Tom and Nicole disappeared into a long secretive shoot for Stanley Kubricks new movie, Eyes Wide Shut', where they would both play married psychiatrists. There was an increase in public speculation about their sex-life after the movie was released in 1999, and they successfully sued The Star for alleging they needed a sex therapist to coach them through their scenes. 1998 saw Nic star alongside Sandra Bullock in the magical movie Practical Magic', and in a theatre production of 'The Blue Room'. Nicole appeared nude in the show. The Blue Room was so successful it ran for 2 months on Broadway, being completely sold out. Nicole received a Standard Award and Olivier nomination for her performance.

Nicole then started work on what was to be her second 'break-out' role, Moulin Rouge. It took over 2 years to complete, and Nicole suffered a broken rib while dancing. At the same time Nicole was also filming Birthday Girl and The Other's. Two weeks into the filming of 'The Panic Room', Nicole had to pull out due to the injury she got from filming Moulin Rouge. A week later, on February 5th 2001, Hollywood's most glamourous couple announced they were to split, and two days later, Tom surprised everyone by filing for divorce. No-one knows the real reason why they split. In the summer of 2002 Nic began filming The Hours. 'Moulin Rouge' opened in Cannes in the summer and Nicole earned rave reviews for a truly amazing performance as the 'sparkling diamond' Satine. The Others was released in the autumn and she got more very positive reviews. Nicole scored a massive Number One hit in the UK with Robbie Williams for their cover of the Frank and Nancy Sinatra song 'Something Stupid'. This and her performance in Moulin Rouge proved that not only can Nicole act, but she can sing too! In early 2002 the filming of Dogville began in Sweden. The year started well with a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical (Moulin Rouge) and Best Actress in a Drama (The Others) at the Golden Globes, Nicole winning Best Actress in Comedy or Musical for her portrayal of Satine. Nicole also received her first Academy Award nomination for Moulin Rouge, but despite being a favourite to win, she lost out to Halle Berry. Nicole didn't mind though, all she wanted to do was party!
Nicole's priority has always been her family. She and her younger sister Antonia would often discuss current events around the dinner table, and would help her parents campaigns by handing out pamphlets in the streets. Nicole's mother was diagnosed with cancer when Nic was 17, and she took time off work to attend a massage course so she could help her mother with physical therapy. Her mother beat the cancer. Nicole and Tom adopted two children, Isabella and Conor, and despite their divorce, they both remain devoted to them. Nicole suffered a miscarriage a few weeks after the divorce.

In 2002 Nicole attended numerous award events and collected almost as many awards for her work in Moulin Rouge and The Others. Nicole spent most of her year filming- The Human Stain and Cold Mountain. In May Nicole was photographed looking decidedly unglamourous while shooting Stain in the US with Sir Anthony Hopkins. From July to November Nicole was filming her Civil War epic mainly in Romania with fellow Hollywood stars Jude Law and Renee Zellweger. During the filming Nicole took time to visit the orphans in local orphanages, and even took them out to eat with her. On a less happy note, Nicole was plagued with rumours about an affair with co-star Jude Law, based on their closeness during filming. Both have always denied the rumours and the following year Nicole successfully sued two British tabloids for printing the stories, with the proceeds being given to a Romania orphan charity. Nicole was also linked to her good friend Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Robbie Williams, Tobey Maguire and many other major stars. In October Nicole started the rounds of promoting The Hours, in which she played Virginia Woolf, to be released in December. Come December, Nicole attended premieres for Gangs Of New York, the two premieres for The Hours, and a screening for Chicago. The Hours opened on December 27th in NY and LA to brilliant reviews- the best of Nicole's career. However, the film could not be talked about without a mention of the infamous nose she wore to becme Virginia Woolf.

Nicole's 2003 started in fine form, with a Best Actress in a Drama Award at the Golden Globes, a BAFTA nomination, and later the award, and a Screen Actors Guild nomination. The buzz was continuing to grow for Nic's Oscar chances, and in February she reveived the nomination she was expected to get. Nicole attended the numerous beginning of the year award ceremonies, everytime making the front pages for her immaculate dresses. However, Nicole also had to endure some hurtful press- about her "relationships". The papers were full of stories of her dates with Jude Law, and Nicole thought they would damage her chances of winning the Oscar. But luckily, she needn't worry- the Academy were obviously clever enough to look past the rumours, and see her real talent- on March 24th Nicole won her first Oscar for her role as troubled author Virginia Woolf, in The Hours. Nicole won the hearts of many with her emotional, touching acceptance speech in which she broke down in tears, while thanking her mother and daughter (both of whom were there with her, along with her father). Many critics called this the most genuine and heartfelt Oscar acceptance speech ever. After the Oscars, Nicole jumped straight back into work, filming Birth in New York, and then starting The Stepford Wives in the early summer. Nicole gained yet more applause, when her movie Dogville was premiered at Cannes on May 19th.

At the start of the summer it was rumoured that Nicole would be appearing in her 2nd advert, this time for Chanel perfume. A rumour also began to circulate that Nicole would guest star in Friends... with Tom. Yet more rumours - Nicole was apparantly offered a record deal with major music company EMI. None of these rumours materialised, however.
As Nicole's upcoming movie roles piled up, it was announced she would have to drop out of Lars Von Triers Dogville sequels, and Mr and Mrs Smith with Brad Pitt. But yet more movie roles were being offered to Nicole, including 'Emma's War' and 'The Intepreter'. But as always, the papers were full of gossip, as Nicole was spotted out with Lenny Kravitz. The speculation grew over the summer with more frequent sightings of the pair - there were even photos that provided evidence that Nic had introduced Bella and Connor to Lenny. The papers couldn't get enough Nicole scandal, and she received criticism for being too thin. The media speculated that she wasn't taking enough time to look after herself. Nicole smartly replied that because she wasn't dating anyone at the time they needed something else to gossip about! During all this, two of Nicole's biggest new releases, Dogville and The Human Stain, received premieres in Toronto, and New York. Critics applauded Nicole's performance, and her daringness and variety towards her roles.
In November, Nicole was honoured with the 18th annual American Cinematheque award, being praised as a risk taker. She attended the event with Connor and Bella, and many of her friends and colleagues, including Naomi Watts, Stockard Channing, Adrien Brody, Natalie Portman and Chloe Sevigny. Russell Crowe left a video message for her, calling her a "princess" and Naomi said "You make audiences absorb and feel. You make actors watch, learn and steal ... You have directors dueling over you and producers crawling over broken glass, begging, 'Say yes.'" about Nicole's power. Lenny Kravitz was, however, not present at the awards.