Kidman: 'I'm terrified I can't act'

Oscar nominee Nicole Kidman has revealed she suffers a crisis of confidence as she starts every film because she is worried she cannot act.

The star – who recently denied she and Jude Law were an item after he experienced marital difficulties – said she has tried to back out of almost every film in which she has starred.

And Kidman, 35, told the new edition of Radio Times she hates watching her movies.

The actress, now one of the world’s biggest stars, said she was “grateful” for the success she has had.

“It’s weird because every time I start a film I think ‘I can’t act’.

“I’ve tried to pull out of almost every one I’ve done because of sheer terror.

“I can always come up with a list of actresses who would be better and try to convince the director to cast someone else by showing the list.”

Kidman landed an Oscar nomination for her role in Stephen Daldry’s new film The Hours in which she is almost unrecognisable as writer Virginia Woolf.

She said: “I can’t stand seeing the finished film. They dragged me to see The Hours and I’m glad I made the movie. At times, though, I cringed. It’s difficult to watch yourself.

“I’d never have predicted the interest to be so strong. I don’t know whether people will see it.”

Kidman hinted she may give up acting within a decade.

“In another eight years I hope I’ll have reached the stage where my creativity has peaked. Everything comes together at a certain time, and then it dissipates. Gone. It’s all ephemeral.”

The star said she was hoping to divide her time between living in her native Australia and London.

“I love cold weather and the rain,” she added, in the interview for the magazine which goes on sale tomorrow.