Meryl Streep reveals Nicole Kidman skinny dipped every morning during Big Little Lies filming in VERY candid admission

Meryl Streep has revealed her Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman skinny dipped every morning in a hilarious speech at  at the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award Gala on Saturday.

Oscar-winner Streep, 74, presenting an award to Kidman, 56, at the ceremony, said: 'Reese [Witherspoon] told me the very first night we were up in Monterey, before we started shooting, she said, ‘You know what she [Kidman] does?’

 'I said, "No, Nicole?" She goes, "Yeah, you know what she does? She goes out at 5, before dawn, and she goes skinny-dipping behind the hotel in the ocean.”

Streep added: 'I looked at Nicole, and I said, "Are you kidding me? The Pacific is like 48 degrees in March,” she said, before adding, “Nicole said, ‘Yeah! I love it!’”

The actress then said to Nicole: 'You’re like a mustang, a workhorse and a champion racer all in one, but one whose spirit they’ll never break. Never.'

Meryl Streep has revealed her Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman skinny dipped every morning in a hilarious speech at at the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award Gala on Saturday

'She goes out at 5, before dawn, and she goes skinny-dipping behind the hotel in the ocean' Reese Witherspoon told Streep (Kidman pictured January)

Nicole played Celeste Wright on the hit show for two seasons

'Your list of credits and roles and good deeds in the world would take a normal person three lifetimes to achieve. Your life and your resume challenges everything we know about how many hours there are in the day and how many places a woman can be at one time.

'When an actress bares all and leaps off into the unknown, she dives deep into the darker parts of what it is to be a human being. But I don’t think it’s bravery. I think it’s love. I think she just loves it.

'And I think that’s the greatest attribute — that blend of appetite and curiosity and recklessness. You have that, baby.'

Nicole was after she was awarded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award the night before. 

The Nine Perfect Strangers star looked statuesque in a sparkling gold Balenciaga gown as she was presented with the prestigious award by 2004 winner  Streep.

Accompanied by husband Keith Urban and their daughters, Sunday and Faith, Nicole became emotional during the ceremony and admitted she was 'deeply moved'. 

Taking to Instagram with a photo of the stage, she wrote: 'Deeply moved by all of the support around the world that I've been seeing and hearing.

'Thank you to all of you and to the @AmericanFilmInstitute for including me in this illustrious group of honorees - now let's have some fun!'

Streep is seen as Mary Louise Wright in the show with Kidman

The star looked incredible in a shimmering gold gown with husband Keith Urban 

Nicole broke down once again when her husband took to the stage with a moving speech, saying she showed him 'what love in action really looks like' when his drug abuse problems emerged after they tied the knot in 2006.

Looking at his wife sat with their two daughters and family, the singer, 56, recalled: 'Four months into our marriage, I'm in rehab for three months.

'Nic pushed through every negative voice, I'm sure even some of her own, and she chose love. And here we are 18 years later,' causing Nicole to wipe a tear away from her face.