Nicole Kidman defends 'respectful' portrayal of Grace Kelly in new film Grace of Monaco

Australian star Nicole Kidman said tonight her portrayal of Grace Kelly will be "respectful".

The Oscar-winning actress, 45, plays the American movie star opposite Tim Roth as Prince Rainier III in Olivier Dahan's forthcoming film Grace Of Monaco, which some members of the Monaco royal family have criticised as "inaccurate".

She defended the film at a special screening of her new film Stoker at the Curzon Soho, saying: "I wanted to be respectful of her, her story and her essence so hopefully that will all come through."

She added: "It's exciting but at first it was daunting. At the same time I had studied her and felt a kind of tenderness towards her."

Mother-of-four Kidman, who is married to Australian country singer and X Factor USA judge Keith Urban, was the epitome of elegance in a purple and gold dress and gold heels by L'Wren Scott at the red carpet event.

Her co-star Mia Wasikowska, who plays her screen daughter, wore a purple dress by Christopher Kane.

Kidman said she chose her role as Evelyn Stoker in the English language directorial debut by Korean director Park Chan-Wook because it was a breath of fresh air from Lee Daniels' The Paperboy, which she had completed.

"I had fun. It was very different to The Paperboy, which I had just done, so as an actress that was a very appealing thing to play a very different character - polar opposites really," she said.

"And also being in something so beautifully crafted, which is what director Park has done with this... He has crafted it exquisitely."

Stoker opens in cinemas on March 1.

PA