Nicole Kidman's new cover for British Vogue has sparked a wave of online reaction, but not for the reason many might expect.

The Australian actress, 59, fronts the fashion bible's September issue modelling an array of preppy pieces by Stella McCartney, Hermès and Chloé while posing in the doorway of a chic home.

However, it was Nicole's heavily airbrushed face that had Instagram users talking, with many claiming the image looked nothing like her.

'Is this the AI version of Nicole??? I don't see the resemblance as this is a totally different woman?' one person wrote.

Others were equally baffled, with one declaring: 'That is NOT Nicole Kidman!!!!' while another added: 'Quite honestly, the aggressive photo editing is a complete disservice to Nicole Kidman and every person in her age group.'

'She looks AI,' one user commented, as another wrote: 'Doesn't look like Nicole Kidman!! Had to read to see who it was!'

One user joked: 'If that's Nicole Kidman, then I'm the Queen of England,' while someone else claimed the image had been 'airbrushed within an inch of its life.'

'If the name of the woman in the photograph hadn't been emblazoned on the magazine cover, I never would have realised it was actress Nicole Kidman,' yet another commenter added.

Some users even suggested the image bore a stronger resemblance to other celebrities than the Oscar winner herself, comparing the cover to everyone from Tara Reid and Jennifer Lawrence to Heidi Montag, Kate McKinnon and Joanna Lumley.

Not everyone was critical, however, with many fans praising the glamorous shoot.

'Nicole! Wow you are stunning,' one admirer wrote, while another gushed: 'Amazing. She has never looked better.'

Others defended the artistic direction of the cover, with one person commenting: 'She looks fabulous. It's called art, style and creativity.'

Another fan applauded the creative direction, writing: 'This is amazing. The styling is perfection! She looks her age and yet we get a throw back to 1980's nighttime soaps!'

In her interview with British Vogue, the actress reflected on the uncertainty she is facing following her divorce from Keith Urban, admitting: 'I had a different view of what my life was going to be, but this is what it is now.' 

She added: 'You make all these plans and you have all these ideas of what it's all going to be like and then it's… not. You have to adjust. You adapt.'

Rather than dwelling on what has changed, the actress said she is determined to move forward with optimism.

'The future, it's completely unknown to me right now,' she admitted, before revealing that she had once felt 'very fearful and deeply vulnerable' but ultimately decided she could either 'curl up, or I can just go forward with an enormous amount of hope.'

And with Kidman turning 60 next year, there appears to be little sign of her slowing down. 

She has already worked with more than 20 female directors since making a pledge in 2017 to help address the industry's gender gap.

'I just think there are some people who are wired to work,' she said. 'I just am.'

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