She is renowned as one of the most svelte actresses in Hollywood, but all of a sudden Nicole Kidman is piling on the pounds.

And like Renee Zellweger before her, it's all for her art.

Just as Renee had to bulk up to play Bridget Jones, so Nicole has already put on 10lb for her latest film, The Reader.

And the 40-year-old Australian actress is planning to double her weight gain in the coming weeks, according to sources on the movie, in which she stars alongside Ralph Fiennes.