The Baz Luhrmann Outback epic Australia is reported to have finished filming with star Nicole Kidman playing out her final scenes at Sydney's Fox Studios.

Kidman plays Englishwoman Lady Sarah Ashley, who travels halfway across the world to inherit a massive Northern Territory cattle station in the period before the start of the Pacific War in World War II.

Filming has taken nine months and included shooting outdoor scenes on location in Bowen, Queensland; Darwin, Northern Territory; and Kununurra, Western Australia, in addition to Sydney film studio venues.

Starring with Kidman in Australia is fellow Australian Hugh Jackman who will be taking on the title role in the sci-fi movie Wolverine after he has taken a break from the Australia shoot.

In the Baz Luhrmann film, Jackman plays an Australian drover and Lady Sarah Ashley's love interest.

Australia is expected to be released around Christmastime next year after post-production work is completed.

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Photo: Nicole Kidman in rehearsal for Australia, by James Fisher © Bazmark Film II 2007