Keith Urban prefers Nicole Kidman without make-up on.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

The 49-year-old actress has admitted her husband of 10 years isn't a big fan when she cakes her face in cosmetics and much prefers the natural look, but the 'Eyes Wide Shut' star believes it's important for women to have a choice about whether they want to wear it or not.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris to launch the 44th edition of the Pirelli calendar, she said: "My husband totally prefers me with no make-up on. Always says that.

"I'm sure there's an enormous amount of men that go, 'I love women when they're no make-up, they are most natural.

"Then there's the flip side which is now I'm going to put on a character and look completely different. But that's the choice and we're allowed to have that choice.

"That's a very important message, particularly to the next generation of not just raising women, little girls, but also little boys."

Nicole stars alongside Jessica Chastain, 39, Charlotte Rampling, 70, Lea Seydoux, 31, Penelope Cruz, 42, Rooney Mara, 31, Dame Helen Mirren, 71 and Lupita Nyong'o, 33, among others in the 2017 Pirelli calendar shoot, which has a theme of female empowerment.

Uma Thurman - who has kids Maya, 18, and Levon, 14, with ex-husband Ethan Hawke, and four-year-old daughter Luna with former fiance Arpad Busson - also appears in the forthcoming calendar, and thinks it is "important" for her kids to see women being comfortable with the "ageing" process.

She added: "I have two daughters and a son, and it's equally important, I think, for boys to see their mother ageing and being herself and not being uncomfortable with that.

"Both my daughters are also going to grow into women, well one of them is practically there.

"So, I think it's wonderful to see that human empowerment opened up to that generation."