I have to admit that I used to have something of a soft spot for actress Nicole Kidman, which peaked around seven years ago.

Firstly, she is the most famous former student of my old high school, so I always felt like I was at least partially responsible for her success (despite the fact that she was long gone by the time I got there and I’ve never laid eyes on her in the flesh in my life).

Secondly, she has a great sense of style and wears clothes incredibly well. Her John Galliano for Christian Dior dress for the 1997 Academy Awards (picture) is one of my all-time favourite red carpet looks, minus the dwarf standing next to her.

Thirdly, she used to be a decent actress. Remember the likes of Dead Calm, To Die For and, of course, the incomparable BMX Bandits?

But then something happened to Nicole. More specifically, non-surgical cosmetic injectables happened to Nicole. Despite her claims that she has never touched Botox, does anyone really believe that a 41-year-old woman’s forehead is naturally as smooth and tundra-like as Nicole’s?

I mean, I am all for cosmetic procedures, if that’s your thing. But isn’t the point of being an actress that you have to emote? To show feeling? In other words, to move your face. The last few times I’ve seen Kidman on screen, I’ve been so captivated by her immovable forehead that I’ve pretty much missed the rest of the film.

I was thinking about this yesterday when a few Lasoo staff members were discussing the new film “Australia”. I mentioned a scurrilous rumour I heard that director Baz Luhrmann had to extensively retouch the film to inject some life into Kidman’s forehead. A couple of people expressed disbelief that Kidman has had Botox… I mean come on. Isn’t it fairly obvious? Sunscreen and clean living only go so far once you hit your 40s.

This morning I Googled “Nicole Kidman’s forehead” for more information (no, I don’t have much going on in my life) and much to my amusement, there is a whole website devoted to the subject. You can see it here. The gallery devoted to the evolution of the Kidman forehead is a must-see.

Picture from Lainey’s Entertainment Update

By Caroline Warnes