Nicole Kidman‘s jaw-dropping cover shoot for Perfect magazine has divided opinion on social media, with some fans hailing it as ‘the best she’s ever done’ while others say it’s a masterclass in Photoshop.

The Hollywood star, 55, caused a serious stir with her latest glossy shoot, which saw her proudly flexing her ripped biceps and flaunting her toned abs while posing in a micro mini skirt and crop top.

As the photos went viral on Monday, Nicole’s biggest cheerleaders were her own celebrity pals, including fellow Aussie actress Naomi Watts, who commented on Instagram: ‘Wowza, all of these pics! And those abs, Nic!’

Actress Kerry Washington also wrote ‘Wow!!!!’ along with three heart-eyes emojis, as other A-listers like Jennifer Aniston, Zendaya and Rita Wilson liked Nicole’s post.

Fans also flocked to Instagram and Facebook to praise the high-fashion shoot.

‘Well damn,’ one wrote, while another remarked that Nicole has ‘still got it’.

‘Hands down the best work she’s done,’ a third commented, as a fourth added: ‘Woo hoo f**k those who say “act your age”. You are just getting cooler.’ 

But not everyone liked the Big Little Lies star’s bold photo shoot, with some calling out the magazine for the ‘heavily Photoshopped’ images.

‘Amazing what airbrushing and makeup can do,’ one critic wrote.

‘Such great Photoshopping skills!’ another commented sarcastically.

‘She is amazing, inside and out, but it’s obvious that the image in question has been Photoshopped heavily. I’m sure she’s shredded, but c’mon now,’ one added.

Some unimpressed fans were confused by her completely wrinkle-free complexion and uneven haircut.

‘What the hell is up with her hair? It looks like something a three year old would do to themselves if they got a hold of a pair of scissors,’ one commented.

‘She’s got enough money to afford a decent haircut. I don’t know, I guess I’m just not artsy enough to get it.’

‘Filters, surgery etc. Don’t pretend that she is ageing naturally,’ another wrote.

‘Doesn’t look like Nicole,’ added one critic. ‘She has changed her face entirely. Just my opinion.’

Looking decades younger than her 55 years, the Oscar-winning actress and mother of four cut an imposing figure while posing for the cover of Perfect magazine, which hailed Nicole as ‘the perfect icon’.

Standing with her fists raised and her biceps flexed, she also revealed her perfectly chiseled legs in the shoot, posing in a micro mini Diesel skirt that could well be mistaken for a belt, as well as a form-fitting halterneck shirt by the same brand. 

Injecting even more funky flair to the shoot, Nicole eschewed her signature blonde waves in favour of an orange-red ‘do that featured a blunt bob framing her face, while long straight strands hung around her shoulders and down her back. 

The cover photo was one of a series of avant-garde images taken by photographer Zhong Lin for the third issue of Perfect magazine, which celebrates pop culture’s greatest icons. 

It comes just months after The Hours actress raised eyebrows by baring her torso in a Miu Miu micro skirt and crop top on the cover of Vanity Fair’s February issue. 

Social media trolls panned the image, accusing the magazine of Photoshopping Nicole’s physique and complexion. 

Others claimed the photo shoot was too raunchy for a woman of Nicole’s age and professional stature. 

Speaking in conversation with Baz Luhrmann for Vogue Australia’s June issue, Nicole revealed she’d actually ‘begged’ magazine stylist Katie Grand to let her wear the fashion house’s pleated mini low-rise skirt. 

Nicole explained another outfit had been picked out for her, but she’d insisted on wearing the barely there number.

‘I was like, “No, no, I like this one! Am I allowed to wear that?”‘ she recalled, adding that Ms Grand had to ask whether she was serious.

Nicole continued: ‘Katie was like, “You’re willing to wear that?!” And I said, “Wear it?! I’m begging you to wear it!”‘

Needless to say, the actress makes clear her stance on ‘age-appropriate’ ensembles with her latest cover shoot, which features an even bolder fashion look – and which was accompanied by a striking series of images inside the magazine’s pages. 

One such image sees Nicole – who has two adopted children with ex Tom Cruise and two biological children with her husband Keith Urban – showing off her toned legs once again in a black long-sleeved body suit, which she modelled with enormous latex thigh-high boots. 

The screen star has a number of projects in the works, including the upcoming Aquaman sequel, which will see her once again sharing the screen with Jason Momoa. The project has wrapped filming and is due for release in 2023. 

Nicole is also currently working on an untitled romantic comedy for Netflix, as well as a TV series called Expats, which is described as being a ‘look at the personal and professional lives of a tight-knit group of expatriates living in Hong Kong’.