To judge by her striking new hairdo, you’d think she was at a fringe event.

But Nicole Kidman unveiled her radical makeover at one of the biggest fashion events of the year.

The actress, 57, wore an eye-catching Balenciaga gown to Monday night’s Met Gala, yet it was her cropped, slicked-back cut and wavy fringe that got everybody talking.

The long ponytail she sported at a concert by pop star Charli XCX only the day before had disappeared, replaced by a short style that appeared soft and blonde from the front, but dark and edgy at the back.

The Babygirl star’s hairdresser Adir Abergel, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stylists, said on Instagram that the inspiration was ‘a tailored short cut’ – a reference to the theme of the New York event this year, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’.

The gala, an annual fundraiser for the city’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, has long been the place celebrities choose to show off a new look.

Nicole Kidman, 57, received full fan approval as she unveiled her radical makeover at one of the biggest fashion events of the year, The Met Gala on Monday

The long ponytail she sported at a concert by pop star Charli XCX only the day before had disappeared, replaced by a short style that appeared soft and blonde from the front, but dark and edgy at the back

Many fans rushed to Mr Abergel’s Instagram to claim the cut is the best hair Nicole ‘has ever had’ – though some argued that, for most women of a similar age, such an edgy style might be hard to pull off.

Lesley Drummond, senior stylist at the John Frieda salon in Mayfair, central London, described the look as ‘almost like a bob that’s quite long at the front but steeply graduated as you go towards the back’.

She added: ‘It’s the contrast between the blonde at the front and the dark at the back that gives it more depth and makes it look so striking.’

Lesley – who half suspects the Oscar winner might have been wearing a very good wig – believes it is nonetheless ‘a lovely cut for someone older who might feel a bit insecure about cutting their hair short’. 

That’s because the length at the front gives it the look of longer hair that has been tied back, making it a gateway chop for those unsure if they are entirely ready to give up their long locks.

‘It’s a style that could work with a lot of different hair types, including curly hair,’ Lesley says.

The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot of skill to style. ‘The key to keeping it easy to manage is having regular cuts to maintain the shape – that’s where the maintenance comes in.

But on a day-to-day basis it’s quite straightforward.’

The Babygirl star’s hairdresser Adir Abergel, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stylists, said on Instagram that the inspiration was ‘a tailored short cut’ – a reference to the theme of the New York event this year, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’

Many fans rushed to Mr Abergel’s Instagram to claim the cut is the best hair Nicole ‘has ever had’ – though some argued that, for most women of a similar age, such an edgy style might be hard to pull off

Nicole pictured with her long blonde locks in February

Read More Nicole Kidman debuts shocking hair transformation at 2025 Met Gala

That Nicole appears to be moving away from her signature long hair could be seen as something of a watershed moment. 

A generation ago, long styles on women over 40 were almost unheard of. Then came a backlash that saw the look prevail.

‘I think what we’re seeing here is a fresher, more modern way of wearing hair short in midlife,’ says Lesley. 

‘It’s no longer about women feeling they need to cut their hair because they’re older, but about showing that they can embrace individuality, whatever their age, and still look feminine.’