Twist on the story of the young man Nicole Kidman posed with at the Oscars when she dated her “friend’s son” who just got his break in Hollywood, as he is revealed to be related to a Nine star.
Nicole Kidman offered up-and-coming Australian actor Sam Rechner the chance of a lifetime by letting him walk the Oscars red carpet with her on Sunday.
As headlines were flying wondering who this new mystery man on the Hollywood block was, Channel Nine newscaster Peter Overton stepped in to claim him.
The Sydney-based journalist, 56, who grew up living next door to Kidman, 55, revealed that Rechner, 21, is his nephew, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
Annette, Overton’s sister and Rechner’s mother, was Kidman’s best friend in Longueville when they all attended Lane Cove Public School together.
“He auditioned for the role online, then got a call saying Steven Spielberg would like to audition him over Zoom,” Overton said of Rechner’s big break in The Fabelmans.
Nicole Kidman, 55, (photo center with her husband Keith Urban) offered up-and-coming Australian actor Sam Rechner, 21, (right) the chance of a lifetime by allowing him to walk the red carpet from the Oscars by his side on Sunday.
She continued: “He was so impressed that a few minutes later, during the same Zoom call, Spielberg came back on screen and told him he had the part.”
Uncle Overton went on to gush about his nephew saying: ‘He is the most humble and kind young man you could hope to meet.
“He only really got into acting after injury and surgery meant his rugby ambitions weren’t going to happen.”
As headlines were flying wondering who this new mystery man on the Hollywood block was, Channel Nine newscaster Peter Overton, 56, stepped in to claim him.
He added: ‘I know we’re biased, but he really deserves all the success. I only know that great things will happen to him in the future.’
Proving why she’s known as one of Hollywood’s kindest stars, Kidman hit the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles with Sydney-born Rechner, who made his big-screen debut in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans.
Rechner plays high school bully Logan Hall in the coming-of-age flick, which was nominated for Best Picture but lost to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The Sydney-based journalist who grew up living next door to Kidman revealed that Rechner is her nephew, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Kidman, whose official chaperone was her husband, country music star Keith Urban, held Rechner’s hand on the champagne carpet as curious reporters questioned them about their unlikely friendship.
“This is Sam, who is my best friend’s son since we were four years old, and he’s in The Fabelmans,” Kidman told the Canadian outlet. eTalk.
Speaking to Sunrise reporter Sonia Kruger at the awards, Kidman praised Rechner for “earning her way onto the Oscars carpet.”
Rechner also joked that he was the ‘doppelgänger’ of Kidman’s husband Urban, 55, who was also seen arm in arm with his wife at the lavish ceremony.
Annette, Overton’s sister and Rechner’s mother, was Kidman’s best friend in Longueville when they all attended Lane Cove Public School together.
