Kidman's 'surreal' year

Kidman won a Golden Globe for Moulin Rouge

Nicole Kidman has described the aftermath of her break-up with Tom Cruise as "surreal".

The Australian actress split from Cruise in early last year after nearly 10 years together.

Since the end of their relationship Kidman has enjoyed box office glory and had a UK Christmas number one single with Robbie Williams.

She told the Sunday Express newspaper that after her marriage break-up, the only way was up for her.

'Gossip'

Kidman said: "In the weirdest way it has opened me up. I have carried the thought with me that whatever happens in the future it won't get much worse than this.

"I have had my life turned over. I am dinner-party gossip. I get looked at and talked about.

"I get embarrassed but I throw it aside and try not to be. My whole life has been spent trying to push through and beat such things."

Kidman met Cruise on the set of the 1990 film Days of Thunder.

The pair went on to star together in Far And Away and Eyes Wide Shut.

Tom Cruise is now with Penelope Cruz

While her life off screen has been an emotional rollercoaster, on screen Kidman's career has never been better.

She won a Golden Globe for her role in the hit musical Moulin Rouge, a performance which also earned her an Oscar nomination.

The Others, in which she starred as a repressed mother during World War II, was also a big box office hit.

Kidman then went on to record the Nancy Sinatra classic Somethin' Stupid with Robbie Williams, as part of his tribute project to Frank Sinatra and the classic crooners.

She has three films due for release in the UK this year, Birthday Girl, Dogville and The Hours.