Kidman gets legal backing

SYDNEY - Actor Nicole Kidman says photographers pursuing her for pictures have gone too far and made her feel she can't leave home without fearing for her safety.

The Oscar winner yesterday successfully applied to extend interim apprehended personal violence orders against freelance photographers Jamie Fawcett, 43, and Ben McDonald, 32. They were ordered not to come within 20m of Kidman's luxury Darling Point mansion, or stalk, harass or molest her.

The case returns to court in Sydney on February 11. Fawcett and McDonald deny any wrongdoing.

Photographers have been staking out the star's harbourside house since she arrived in Sydney on Sunday to begin filming her new movie, Eucalyptus.

Court action follows allegations Kidman's car was pursued dangerously by paparazzi in Sydney, and the discovery of a listening device found last Sunday across the street from Kidman's home.

Kidman said through her publicist that police had advised her to take out court orders to protect her rights. "Nicole would like to make it clear that she acknowledges she is a public figure and that reporters and photographers have a job to do and she respects that," publicist Wendy Day said. "However, these are specific actions against two individuals who, over a period of time, have caused her to feel threatened, intimidated and unable to leave her home without fearing for her safety."

Kidman's father, Sydney psychologist Antony Kidman, said she felt like a prisoner in her own home.

Granting the APVOs in Waverley Local Court today, Magistrate Lee Gilmore said photographers were entitled to earn a living. "But it's all a matter of degree, and as Miss Kidman says, she's willing to put up with some of it, but she says it's gone beyond that now."

Lawyers for the two photographers denied their clients were involved in either a driving incident or in the planting of a bugging device.

NSW Premier Bob Carr called for balance in the way the media treats celebrities. Australia's media union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said it was concerned APVOs were being misused to stop journalists and photographers doing their work.

- AAP