Actress Nicole Kidman has flashed her nipples in a steamy bath scene for "Queen of the Desert".

The Oscar-winning actress wears just a nightshirt as she submerges herself in a bathtub in the middle of the desert during the sensual scene, reports mirror.co.uk.

The raunchy moment is just one of the erotic scenes Kidman shot for the historical epic in which she plays Gertrude Bell, the historian, novelist and member of the British secret service who was instrumental to setting the course for the new political order in the Middle East around 1920.

Director Werner Herzog admitted that the actress didn't shy away from putting her body on display.

He said: "We had a folded canvas bathtub that we had in our equipment in the caravan, and Nicole said to me, 'Werner, I have to take a bath, I want to take a bath. And I said, 'Let me write it into the screenplay.'"

Explaining why she asked for the scene to be included, Kidman insisted it wasn't just a bit of added titilation.

"I thought that was such a great addition because it really shows this woman's love of the world," the star said.

"I think a woman of that era who goes to live like that is an unusual, extraordinary person and I'm so glad that I got the chance to explore her for a portion of her life."