Reese Witherspoon has "always looked up" to Nicole Kidman.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

The 40-year-old actress gushed about her 'Big Little Lies' co-star, admitting she has always admired the 49-year-old star's acting abilities.

Reese said: "We didn't know each other very well before we started but I just always ... I always looked up to you. You're such an incredible actress."

To which Nicole replied: "I call myself your big sister now ... I'd never had the experience of working with another woman so closely that I got to call you and say, 'What do you think I should do with this character? I don't like this scene and I don't know how to play this."

And the 'Wild' star also opened up about the "huge opportunity" the television series presented them as it features no less than five "distinct female parts".

In a joint interview with Nicole on Good Morning America, Reese added: "It was a huge opportunity, with five distinct female parts, where women are talking to each other how they really talk to each other, about issues that are really affecting their lives every day ... and that's so important, that female friendship. And those bonds are what, I mean, my girlfriends are my life.

"And as much as there's the entertainment part of it, there's also this camaraderie. You see what we do for each other as friends, and what we do for each other behind the scenes in terms of protecting each other, holding each other's secrets."

Meanwhile, Reese recently admitted she became "deeply invested" in her 'Big Little Lies' co-stars.

She said: "We talked about nothing to do with work. It was always just our personal lives: what's going on with our kids, single girls and who they're dating. We just became a really close-knit family, even with the kids, too - hanging out with them and playing with them.

"You get deeply invested in people. I think that's part of the experience of getting to know people. What deepens our relationships on set, even more than a rehearsal, is the glass of wine you have after work. 'What's on in your life? How's your mom? How's your heart?' That kind of stuff."