Nicole attended St. Martin's Youth Theater in Melbourne, Australia. At the age of 14 she starred in her first film role as Helen in the Australian TV Movie Bush Christmas. She later starred in several other Australian TV Movies, most notably Vietnam and Bangkok Hilton which earned her Best Actress awards from the Australian Film Institute.

However, it was not until 1989 with her inspired starring role as Rae Ingram in the thriller Dead Calm with its disturbing rape scene that Hollywood noticed Nicole.

She then starred in her first Hollywood film Days of Thunder along side Tom Cruise. Tom reportedly said "My first reaction to meeting Nic was pure lust..."

In 1990 shortly after Days of Thunder and at the age of 23 Nicole became the second wife of Tom Cruise at a secret ceremony on the 24th December in Colorado, USA. Even though Nicole is unable to ¡®tan¡¯, due to a minor genetic quirk, her versatility, personality and skill has transcended this Hollywood ¡®big time¡¯ barrier.

Nicole proved that she is not just ¡®Mrs. Tom Cruise¡¯ by starring in 3 films during her first year of marriage. From then she appeared in many films, gaining experience and fans as she went. Nicole worked along side such actors as Dustin Hoffman (in Billy Bathgate), Alec Baldwin (in Malice), Michael Keaton (in My Life) and of course Tom Cruise (in Far and Away).

In 1995 Nicole took the world by storm by first appearing in Batman Forever as Dr. Chase Meridian along side Val Kilmer; And then taking the leading role in the black comedy To Die For.

Although Nicole and Tom have not had any children they have adopted 2, Isabella Jane and Connor Anthony.