There is an old Australian Aboriginal belief that women who play the ancient didgeridoo instrument (which is forbidden) risk losing the ability to give birth to children … but that didn’t stop Aussie minx Nicole Kidman from wrapping her lips around a didgeridoo (or at least try to) and giving a good blow on live German television this week. Actually, her blowing prowess was described as “feeble” but she did her best when she appeared on the show Wetten Dass ..? with Australia co-star Hugh Jackman … behold:

Nicole Kidman has been warned by Aborigines who say she will not be able to have more children because she broke a sacred taboo by playing a didgeridoo on German television. Aborigine culture bars women from playing the traditional instrument because of a belief it will leave them barren. The Oscar-winning actress blew weakly into the long wooden instrument when she appeared on the TV show with fellow star Hugh Jackman to promote her latest movie, Australia. Jackman playfully danced a jig beside her - but Aboriginal tribes were far from amused when they saw pictures of the actress blowing into the instrument. “People are going to see Nicole playing it and think it’s all right,” said Aboriginal language teacher Richard Green. “But it will mean she has no more children. It is not meant to be played by women as it will make them barren.” And Mr Alan Madden, a cultural officer with Sydney’s Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, said Miss Kidman ought to have known better, particularly after the movie had been made on location in outback Australia. “I presume she doesn’t know of the taboo, otherwise she wouldn’t be playing it,” said Mr Madden. But he said movie-maker Baz Luhrmann should have known better ‘after working with those traditional (Aboriginal) fellas on the film’. Earlier this year Australian publisher HarperCollins had to apologise after Aboriginal academics complained about a section of “‘he Daring Book for Girls’ which gave instructions on how to play a didgeridoo. The section was removed from later editions. Miss Kidman, who adopted two children while married to Tom Cruise and has since given birth to Sunday Rose in her marriage to singer Keith Urban, said recently that she might put further films on hold to have more children. “In terms of my future as an actor and stuff, I don’t know,” she said. “I’m in a place in my life where I’ve had some great opportunities. And I may just choose to have some more children.”

Well, here’s hoping that the Aboriginal taboo is just mere superstition. After all, she and former hubby Tom Cruise were never able to have children but I suspect that had more to do with Tom’s didgeridoo rather than any ol’ superstition. I suppose she should be commended for throwing caution to the wind and tempting the fates with her brazen disbelief in the curse … tho, I’m not sure I’d be willing to tempt fate in that way. I guess we’ll see if Nicole will really get into any trouble after blowing on such a large instrument in front of all those people. And really, that wasn’t meant to sound as dirty as it did ;)

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Here are a few adorable photos of little Sunday Rose with her parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban as they made their way en masse to the Grand Palais in Paris, France earlier today to see a Picasso exhibit on display there:

She may only be five months old, but Sunday Rose is already a frequent flyer. The baby girl, who has clocked up trips to England and Australia, this time joined doting parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on a whistle-stop visit to Paris. The family of three enjoyed a quick tour of the city, with a visit to the Picasso exhibition held at the Grand Palais today. They are in the French capital while Nicole continues her promotional blitz ahead of the release of the epic outback romance, Australia.

I am just amazed at how big little Sunday Rose is already. It’s a shame that her hair hasn’t grown in yet but I’m sure it’ll be along any day now. This has to be one of the cutest families in Hollywood … and they sure do look happy all the time. I always knew that Nicole Kidman would be great with a baby of her own … she strikes me as a very cool mom. So glad to see the whole family lookin’ so happy together.

Sidebar: have any of y’all seen Australia yet? I haven’t been able to talk David in going to see it with me so I may have to see it back home in LA … is it worth the time/money?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

The sweeping new Baz Luhrmann film Australia had its world premiere debut at the George Street Greater Union Cinemas in Sydney, Australia yesterday and was attended, of course, by the movie’s principal stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman (just named by People magazine as the Sexiest Man Alive). Described as the Aussie Gone With the Wind (in that the movie is grand, larger than life and romantic), Australia is set in WWII Northern OZ and throws together two characters that initially butt heads and then, naturally, fall in love over the course of the film. Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals from yesterday’s world premiere:

Red carpets were rolled out in Sydney and the dusty outback on Tuesday for the world premiere of the epic movie “Australia” which aims to showcase the rugged continent, its history and indigenous people to the world. Director Baz Luhrmann’s ambitious and grandly named film, the most expensive made in Australia, was released amid a blaze of publicity and a race to finish the movie on time. Australian co-stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman have both carved out lucrative Hollywood careers but wanted to work with Luhrmann, a perfectionist who was so busy editing the film until the last moment that the cast did not see it before the premiere. “I knew we would get there but it has been a long time,” Jackman told Reuters as he walked the red carpet in Sydney, while screenings were held in three other Australian locations. The two-hour 40-minute long movie, which is reported to have cost News Corp’s 20th Century Fox about US$130 million, is a World War Two drama set in stunning Australian landscape. An English aristocrat (Kidman) travels to Australia and joins forces with a “drover” or cowboy (Jackman) and an Aboriginal child to drive a herd of cattle across Australia, falling in love along the way. Australia is pinning high hopes on the romantic adventure, which Luhrmann said he had filmed in the style of “Gone With The Wind” hoping to make his mark on Australian film history, but it remained to be seen if it would draw audiences globally. “There will be some (bad reviews), and there will be some people who really embrace it,” said Luhrmann, admitting spending such a large amount on an old-fashioned style movie was a risk. Early reviews from Australian critics were mixed, with David Stratton in The Australian writing it was not the hoped-for masterpiece while Jim Schembri in The Sydney Morning Herald said it was good but not destined to be a classic — and way too long … Kidman, 41, who worked with Luhrmann on his last and third movie “Moulin Rouge” in 2001, said making “Australia” was a “once in a lifetime thing” for her. “Rarely do you get a make a film that you have dreamed of doing since you were little, which will be part of Australian cinema,” said Kidman. “This is a celebration for me and hopefully for this country.” The movie also focuses on “the stolen generation,” when tens of thousands of Aboriginal children were taken away from their families between the 1880s and 1960s to be raised by whites. Australia’s new Labor government this year issued a long-sought formal apology to Aborigines for past injustices, heralding a new era in race relations in the nation … Luhrmann said the release of the film in the same year as the national apology was coincidental, but in light of the apology, he felt he had to work the message into the story. “Australia” opens in the United States and Australia on November 26, and in Britain on December 26.

I really love all of Lurhmann’s films … he has an eye for making really inventive and exciting films that not only entertain but also look really beautiful. I became a fan of his with William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet and count Moulin Rouge as one of my all-time fave films. I am very excited to see this movie (I understand there is a scene in the film where Hugh Jackman dumps a bucket of water on his half-nekkid body … being well aware of how the man looks while half-nekkid and wet, I’m game) but am going in without any high expectations. The movie sounds grand but, for me, it doesn’t have to be a timeless classic that will last the ages. I’m just a fan of Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Baz Luhrmann — what more could I want? I’ll deffo see this movie when it opens next week … mebbe I’ll run into one of you in the popcorn line?

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

This past weekend we learned that Nicole Kidman would be receiving a special tribute from Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine at the 15th annual Women In Hollywood Tribute event hosted by Elle magazine — and last night was the big night. Celebs of varying stature and caliber made their way out to The Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, CA last night to partake of Elle magazine’s tribute to, in their estimation, the most worthy women in Hollywood. Here are a few pics from the event’s red carpet arrivals last night:

Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton and Halle Berry joined dozens of other stars in a ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel on Monday for Elle magazine’s 15th annual Women in Hollywood tribute, honoring seven noteworthy women in entertainment. Fonda served as an informal entertainment ambassador before the program, chatting up actress Kat Dennings and introducing Amber Tamblyn to Shirley MacLaine. Meanwhile, the evening’s host, Chelsea Handler, shared laughs with Jenny McCarthy and Cheryl Hines. Other guests included Kate Beckinsale, Courteney Cox, Eva Mendes, Angie Harmon and Cheryl Tiegs. Elle’s annual dinner pays tribute to women “who are telling our stories” in Hollywood, said editor Roberta Myers. This year’s honorees included Berry, Fonda, Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Sigourney Weaver, Isla Fisher and director Catherine Hardwicke — all of whom are featured in the magazine’s November issue. “Someday hopefully it won’t be necessary to allocate a special evening to celebrate where we are and how far we’ve come,” Weaver said. “Someday women writers, producers and crew members will be so commonplace, and roles and salaries for actresses will outstrip those for men, and pigs will fly.” Though things have improved for women, “we do have a long way to go,” she said. Hathaway said in today’s Hollywood “women are about so much more than how they look. I think it’s pretty remarkable that, at 25, I’m able to say that my role as a woman in Hollywood is purely as an artist, not a cause,” Hathaway said. “I’m free to play my characters as I imagine them, far beyond what size jeans they wear.” Fisher thanked “my baby daddy SBC” (Sacha Baron Cohen) and paid homage to Kidman, “who paved the way for all us Aussies.” MacLaine continued the praise. “Nicole Kidman has been a revelation to me, and it’s not easy for me to be revelated,” she said, calling Kidman “my star child.” Kidman thanked all the directors who “molded” her, particularly Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack. “They were men in Hollywood who loved women,” she said. Fonda thanked all the women in the house — and Hollywood itself. “Aren’t we glad we’re not bankers,” she said. “We are in the most fantastic business.”

I feel I must echo Sigourney Weaver’s comments and am also very much looking forward to the day when events like this are no longer necessary. Hopefully the day will soon come when there’ll be no need to honor women in Hollywood on a singular night of tribute because they will be afforded the same tribute as their male counterparts every single day. I find it criminal that Johnny Depp (and no offense to him in any way) can demand $55 million dollars for a film role when women cannot garner the same pay. There is still a huge disparity between wages paid to men over women. We may have come a long way (baby) but there is still a long way to go yet. In any event, congrats and kudos to the women honored at last night’s event. It sounds like due tribute was paid to some very deserving women.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Nicole Kidman is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Elle magazine. You may recall that we finally got our first look at Nicole’s newborn daughter Sunday Rose earlier this week and while Sunday was lookin’ absolutely precious, Nicole — in her all black outfit — was not. Fortunately she looks much hotter in her new Elle magazine spread. Additionally, Marc Malkin of E! is reporting that Nicole is going to be honored by a true Hollywood legend at the upcoming Women in Hollywood Tribute event which is hosted by, you guessed it, Elle magazine. Here is Nicole’s Elle mag cover and some deets about the upcoming tribute:

Nicole Kidman’s night at Elle magazine’s Women in Hollywood Tribute will be legendary—literally. None other than silver-screen legend Shirley MacLaine will be presenting Kidman with her award at the upcoming VIP gala. The 15th annual festivities taking place Oct. 6 in Beverly Hills will honor eight of the movie business’ most powerful and celebrated women. Along with MacLaine, I’ve also learned that Courteney Cox will present to Isla Fisher, while Mía Maestro will do the same for her best friend, Salma Hayek. Jane Fonda’s tribute will come from Kerry Washington, her costar from the New York City reading of Eve Ensler’s play Necessary Targets. The event’s host will be E!’s very own funnylady, Chelsea Handler. Also being honored are Halle Berry, Sigourney Weaver, Anne Hathaway and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. Their presenters have not been announced.

Sounds like the Women in Hollywood Tribute is going to be a fancy affair. It makes sense that Elle would put Nicole on the cover of their latest issue. After the jump, check out a few more photos from Nicole’s Elle photoshoot … (more…)

Nicole Kidman has made her way to London, England and she brought along her newborn baby girl Sunday Rose along with her. After emerging from a London area hospital (reason: unknown), Nicole planted a gentle kiss on her daughter’s little head and inadvertently gave us our first clear look at the little doll (unlike those grainy pics from OZ back in August) since her birth back in July … behold:

She’s so precious … and so big already. It’s nice that Nicole has decided it’s time to let her baby enjoy the sun on her face rather than having to be carried around in baby sacks ;) It’s very nice to meet you Sunday Rose, we’ve been waiting a long time to see how pretty you are.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]