Nicole Kidman, 59, shows off her incredible abs in a Chanel bikini top as she recalls being told she was 'too tall' to be an actress in edgy new Vogue Australia cover shoot

Nicole Kidman turned back the clock as she showed off her incredible abs in a Chanel bikini for a new Vogue Australia cover shoot.

The actress, 59, belied her years in the editorial as she recalled once being told she was 'too tall' to be an actress. 

Ms Kidman teamed the bikini with a pair of low-slung denim jeans by the high-end fashion house and a statement gold necklace as she sported tousled wet hair. 

A second look saw the film star looking like a skater chick in a Chanel beanie hat and matching monochromatic strapless dress as she gazed into the camera.

The interview consisted of Ms Kidman being questioned by many famous Australians. 

Film-maker Baz Luhrmann asked her: 'When you’re young, there’s always a big focus on fitting in. Is there something you viewed as an obstacle in your youth that you’ve since found to be a strength?'

Nicole Kidman, 59, showed off her incredible abs in a Chanel bikini top as she recalled being told she was 'too tall' to be an actress in an edgy new Vogue Australia cover shoot

A second look saw the movie star looking like a skater chick in a Chanel beanie hat and matching monochromatic strapless dress as she gazed into the camera

She replied: 'My height was an obstacle. I was the tallest in the class, taller than all the boys. I couldn’t fulfill being a ballet dancer because I was too tall. 

'Even as an actress, I was told, "You’re too tall, because you’re taller than the leading man". 

'And then, suddenly, when you are cast first in something, you’re not too tall; everyone has to adjust around you. 

'That was kind of amazing when that happened. My whole life, it was just, "You’re going to be too tall". But it gave me my fire.'

5ft 11in Ms Kidman was married to 5ft 7in inches Tom Cruise for 11 years, before being married 5ft 10in Keith Urban from 2006 to January this year. 

Her good friend Naomi Watts asked her during the interview: 'What rule have you broken before?'

And she said: 'She knows them! I’m not answering. Many. Rule breaker. It takes one to know one!'

Barbie star Margot Robbie posed the question: 'What’s your favourite Aussie TV ad from the past?'

Ms Kidman replied: 'Well, I always wanted to be in a McDonald’s commercial. When I was growing up, McDonald’s was it. 

'Forget about acting, I want to be in a McDonald’s commercial, because I want to be able to eat the Quarter Pounder on camera over and over again. I never got cast.'

And actress Zoe Saldaña asked: 'You’ve built one of the most fearless careers in our industry while raising a family, and you’ve never seemed to treat those as competing lives. 

Ms Kidman said: 'My height was an obstacle. I was the tallest in the class, taller than all the boys. I couldn’t fulfill being a ballet dancer because I was too tall'

'Is there a secret to being 100 per cent mother and 100 per cent artist, or have we all just agreed to be bad at math?'

Ms Kidman replied: 'There’s no such thing as perfection in any area. You do your best and you show up, and in each thing you go, "I’m never going to be perfect at this, but I’m going to give it my best, best shot to do the best I can". 

'As I always say to my daughters, if push came to shove, that all goes out the window. There is nothing more important than you. That is so important for a child to hear. 

'They know it, because they can call the set and if I’m in the middle of something, if they need me, they’ve got me. 

'To know that you are absolutely the priority, that you will never, ever not be put first when it’s really needed, for me, that’s love.'  

Last year, Chanel welcomed Ms Kidman back as a global ambassador and her latest shoot took place as the house brought its resort ’27 collection to Australia for the first time.

Photographed in New York by Lachlan Bailey, the shoot was styled by Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Christine Centenera. 

Vogue Australia November issue goes on sale on Monday 2 November.