Nicole Kidman's pregnant pause

Jan 7, 2008, 13:30 GMT

Australian actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere of her new film The Golden Compass in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007. The film is based on author Philip Pullman\'s best-selling novel, The Golden Compass and is released nationally on December 26. EPA/TRACEY NEARMY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Nicole Kidman is taking a break from acting because she does not want to work while pregnant.

The 40-year-old actress has reportedly dropped out of post-World War II Germany drama 'The Reader', which she was supposed to start filming this month, as she is worried undue stress may harm her unborn baby.

Matthew Frankel, a spokesman for the Weinstein Company who are producing the film, has denied the actress has quit the movie, saying: "I am being told that the status on 'The Reader' has not changed."

Nicole's representative Catherine Olim - who last week denied the actress was pregnant - refused to comment on the rumours.

The 'Moulin Rouge' star - who has suffered miscarriages in the past - was asked by a reporter in Sydney, Australia, on Friday (04.01.08) if she was pregnant but refused to answer either way.

An inside source told the New York Post newspaper: "Of course, everyone knows she's pregnant and lying about it."

Another source claims a Vanity Fair editor was recently overheard talking about bringing forward the date of Nicole's photoshoot for the magazine's annual Hollywood issue because of her condition.

The insider said: "It's because the costumes she's set to wear won't fit her much longer."

Last week, while out visiting an art gallery with husband Keith Urban, Nicole fuelled pregnancy rumours by seemingly trying to hide her 'baby bump'.

(C) BANG Media International