Critics heap praise on Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos

Nicole Kidman copped backlash when she was first cast in her latest role but now she is having the last laugh.

It’s no easy feat playing one of Hollywood’s most revered icons.

But Nicole Kidman has silenced her critics with her portrayal of the late Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos – even winning the support of Ball’s daughter Lucie Armaz.

The movie follows Ball and her then-husband and co-star Desi Arnaz (played by actor Javier Bardem) as they manage a crisis that could end their careers and their marriage.

The casting choice of the Oscar-winner as the loveable Lucy Ricardo of I Love Lucy fame brought on backlash from fans unimpressed with writer/director Aaron Sorkin’s choice of leading lady.

Nicole Kidman attends the New York premiere of Being The Ricardos in New York City. Picture: WireImage

But her performance won the approval of Ball and Arnaz’s daughter Lucie Arnaz, who praised the actress as “spectacular” in the role.

“What she did was astounding,” Lucie said. “She‘s got such poise and class.”

Critics who viewed the movie also heaped praise on Kidman’s portrayal, which is already

generating Oscar buzz.

“Lucy, you’ve got some campaigning to do: Being the Ricardos played well in its first screening, suggesting a solid awards contender,” New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan said.

“I bought Nicole more as off-screen, dramatic Lucy than as a sitcom dynamo, but the audience still ate her and Javier Bardem up.”

Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball for Being The Ricardos. Picture: Supplied

At a screening in New York, 54-year-old Kidman revealed she had “massive trepidation” about playing the comedy legend, after receiving backlash following her casting.

“I had massive trepidation about a month prior, and Aaron (Sorkin) had to get on the phone and send me emails saying, ‘You’ve got this’,” Kidman said.

“It was frightening, but incredibly exciting.”

Kidman also revealed that while she loved Ball and the show, she didn’t know “the woman behind the lipstick.”

“I worked with actually a movement coach as well, because the physicality of her — (I’m a) 5-foot-11 kind of gawky woman who’s not used to, you know, she was a beautiful dancer and had such a command of her body,” she said.

“So I had to really work on that. Vocally, I started with the Lucy voice, and it was so far out of reach that it was terrifying.”

Kidman previously said taking on the role of Ball was daunting because it was out of her “comfort zone,” but said she hoped she was funny as the famous comedian.

Being the Ricardos” will be released on December 10.