Nicole Kidman doesn't think Hollywood is an ''even playing field''.

The 47-year-old actress - who's married to Australian country music singer Keith Urban - has hit out at sexism in the movie industry, saying women are given too few opportunities to demonstrate their talents.

She said: ''We're all working and banding together and trying to change that and that's what's needed.

''We also need to put cameras in little girls' hands and get them to tell stories and increase their confidence so that they can feel powerful.''

The Oscar-winning actress implored women who have aspirations of forging a career within the movie industry to ''take risks, raise our voices and honour the fire within''.

Nicole's remarks come shortly after Dame Helen Mirren hit out at ''ridiculous'' sexism in Hollywood.

The 69-year-old actress bemoaned instances of older men being cast with younger female love interests.

Dame Helen - who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Britain's Queen Elizabeth in the 2006 hit 'The Queen' - said: ''It's ridiculous. And 'twas ever thus. We all watched James Bond as he got more and more geriatric, and his girlfriends got younger and younger. It's so annoying.''