The Blue Room transferred to Broadway

"It's taken a long while to sort it out, but it is going to happen."

But unlike her last London stage role - in The Blue Room at the Donmar Warehouse - Kidman will remain fully clothed throughout.

The Ibsen story explores the yearings of a young woman married to a country doctor in 19th century Norway.

Star names

Kidman is not the only star name being linked to productions at the National Theatre.

A theatre spokewoman said talks were well-advanced with Fatal Attraction star Glenn Close for a role in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

And TV actress and singer Martine McCutcheon will star in May as Eliza Doolittle in a production of My Fair Lady.

West End debut

Nicole Kidman wowed theatre critics in 1998 in London and New York in David Hare's play The Blue Room.

Her performance was described in one review as "theatrical Viagra".

Other Hollywood stars who have trodden the boards in the West End include Kevin Spacey, Daryl Hannah, Kathleen Turner, Jessica Lange and Macaulay Culkin.