Nicole's emotional reunion with her mum

The actress made a special visit to Sydney to shower her mum with love ahead of Mother’s Day

Arelaxed and happy Nicole Kidman couldn’t stop smiling during a joyful reunion last week with her mum Janelle, who seemed equally delighted to see her famous daughter and Nicole’s two girls.

The star came home from Nashville with Sunday, nine, and seven-year-old Faith to support Janelle as she had some routine tests at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, which is part of her ongoing care following a heart attack two years ago.

But Nicole’s six-day visit was just as much about spending family time with her 78-year-old mum, who she praised earlier this year in her best actress acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.

“I’m so blessed to have you,” beamed Nicole, who rarely left her mother’s side last week while husband Keith Urban was busy publicising his new album.

He joined Nicole and their girls in Sydney a couple of days after they’d arrived.

With Nicole based in Nashville and her sister Antonia, 47, now living in Singapore with her family, the famous siblings try to visit Janelle as often as possible, especially since the death of their father Dr Antony Kidman three years ago. His loss has only brought the tight-knit family even closer, if that were possible.

Nicole and Keith were unable to stay for Mother’s Day because of their hectic schedules, with Keith promoting his new album Graffiti U – which he’s said features a “sexy arse song” about his wife – and Nicole filming the second series of Big Little Lies in the US.