Nicole Kidman-Tom Cruise divorce is final
( 2001-08-09 09:10 ) (7 )

It's final. As of 12:01 am Pacific time on Wednesday actors Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were officially divorced.

Just a few hours earlier on Tuesday night the former Hollywood power couple appeared under the same roof to celebrate the opening of their new movie, "The Others.'' However they arrived in separate cars, surrounded by separate groups of friends, clearly indicating that they were no longer together.

In fact their paths seemed never to cross at the star-studded premiere of the film on which Cruise, 39, served as executive producer and Kidman, 34, its star.

As they passed throngs of reporters lining the Red Carpet both stars seemed also to avoid questions about the marriage, which broke up six months ago when Cruise filed for divorce, while publicly showing respect and restraint toward the other.

"I feel how I feel,'' Kidman told reporters, adding, "I am glad he is here to support the movie.''

Cruise told reporters Kidman gave an extraordinary performance and "owned'' the role of a mother in an isolated mansion on an island in the English Channel, trying to protect two young children from things that go bump in the night. The film opens Friday.

After 10 years of marriage, Cruise filed for divorce from Kidman Feb. 7 citing "irreconcilable differences.'' Kidman, who was born in Hawaii but raised in Australia, was reported to have been shocked by the split.

A week ago Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lee Edmon signed the judgement granting the Cruise-Kidman divorce. Although their divorce became final on Wednesday there were still some settlement details to be worked out, including issues of property and custody of their two adopted children, Isabella, 8, and Conor, 6.

A trial-setting conference on those issues is set for Oct. 4. An ensuing trial could take several weeks to complete, court officials said.

Meanwhile, "The Others'' has won rave advance reviews. Daily Variety said: " ... as exec producer of 'The Others,' Tom Cruise has handed Kidman the most generous divorce settlement any (working-actress) wife could ask for. 'The Others' is a luxuriously old-fashioned star vehicle custom-fit to its (star's) strengths, which come across to sensational effect.''