The mystery behind the hilarious Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise divorce celebration meme has deepened after the star claimed the viral pictures are ‘from a film’ – but fans aren’t so convinced.

Nicole, 57, and Tom, 62, were married from 1990-2001 – with a pH๏τographer seemingly capturing an iconic snap of Nicole raising her arms and screaming in elation as she left her attorney’s office when her divorce was finalised.

The series of pH๏τos have since become an iconic meme and have been circulated the internet for more than two decades.

However, Nicole has now denied it was ‘real life’ and instead offered a surprising explanation for what she was doing at the time of the pH๏τo.

She told British GQ: ‘That’s not true… That was not me. That was from a film. That wasn’t real life. I know that image!’

But, she failed to specify which film she was shooting at the time and fans have put their detective skills to work to try and track it down – with no success.

The mystery behind the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise divorce celebration meme has deepened after the star claimed the snaps are ‘from a film’ – but fans aren’t convinced

A pH๏τographer reportedly captured the snap of Nicole raising her arms and screaming in joy as she left her attorney’s office when her divorce was finalised (Tom and Nicole above in 1997)

Taking to Reddit, one user quipped: ‘I thought her last excuse was that she was sneezing. This is the first time I’ve read it was for a movie. I need the internet to find what movie it’s from immediately.’

Someone else guessed: ‘I just did a shallow dive and I can’t even find the original source of the picture. 

There were some pap pH๏τos from September of that year where her hair looks very similar so maybe it was taken around that time — but if it was from a movie set that means it probably would be a movie that released in 2002 or even 2003. 

‘Her clothes look modern so the only movie in that timeframe that would make sense is The Human Stain?

‘Also this could be from something she filmed that got cut or reworked and never actually saw light of day, or it could even just be her leaving a movie set and she’s misremembering that it was something filmed.’

Meanwhile, a third skeptical fan chimed in with: ‘Her PR/lawyers may have requested Getty remove the image from their database. We may never know the full story.’ 

Someone else simply demanded: ‘What film Nicole?,’ as more people flooded the replies trying to work it out.

In response to someone asking which movie it was from, one person in the comments joked: ‘The movie of life that just happened to be filmed outside her lawyers office.’

Others quipped: ‘Right? What film Nicole? We would remember it as she has her red hair in the picture.’ 

However, Nicole has now denied it was ‘real life’ and instead offered a surprising explanation for what she was doing at the time of the pH๏τo

But, she failed to specify which film she was shooting at the time and fans have put their detective skills to work to try and track it down – with no success

Read More Iconic pH๏τo of Nicole Kidman smoking with her ex-husband Tom Cruise goes viral

‘I could’ve sworn a few years ago she said it was her in the midst of a sneeze. Now she’s saying it was from a movie? I’m more convinced than ever that it’s exactly what we thought it was lol.’

‘Queen you can’t keep saying it’s from a film it’s been like 20 years.’

‘What movIe Nicole? What movie???’

‘Timeline doesn’t add up Nicole but I appreciate the attempt. she wasn’t making that many movies during the end of her marriage. 

Moulin rouge was filming as they were separating/divorcing, her career soared to new heights post Tom so doubtful this was some other movie no one can name lol.’

‘Her character would have to have curly red hair. She doesn’t have many movies with that so it would definitely narrow it down.’ 

Tom and Nicole met in 1990 when the two were cast together in Days of Thunder, a film about motor-racing.

She was 23 at the time and, coming from Australia, was unknown in Hollywood. That all changed when the stars sparked a real-life romance during the filming.

Tom and Nicole met in 1990 when the two were cast together in Days of Thunder, a film about motor-racing

She was 23 at the time and, coming from Australia, was unknown in Hollywood. That all changed when the stars sparked a real-life romance during the filming 

After 12 years of marriage, Tom walked out on his wife in 2001, leaving her in a state of ‘utter shock.’ He filed for divorce that same year, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’.

They adopted two children during their marriage – Bella, 31 and Connor, 29.

According to reports, the real reason for him abandoning her was due to her refusal to join the Church of Scientology.

In 2012, Nicole opened up about her painful split in an interview with DuJour Magazine.

‘I thought our life together was perfect. It took me a very long time to heal. It was a shock to my system,’ she said.

‘We were in a bubble, just the two of us. We became very dependent on one another. I was reeling with Tom,’ she told the outlet. ‘I would have gone to the ends of the earth for him…. I was totally smitten – I fell madly, pᴀssionately in love.’

Looking back, she told the outlet that she was ‘naïve’ to think that Tom was her happily ever after.

Last year it was rumored that Tom ‘skipped’ the Oscars to ‘avoid an awkward run-in’ with Nicole.

Insiders said the Top Gun: Maverick star was not at the ceremony due to his ex-wife being there – following their bitter divorce over 20 years ago.

Kidman has been married to Keith Urban since 2006 and the pair share two daughters (pictured last month)

Tom’s movie was nominated for six awards, including the coveted Best Picture Award.

A source told DailyMail.com: ‘Tom was not there because she was there, and he did not want a run-in.’

However, sources close to Tom claimed his absence was ‘not personal’ and was nothing more than scheduling difficulties, though they did not reply specifically to the claim that it was connected to Nicole’s presence.

Tom and his ex-wife haven’t been seen at the same event for years.

Nicole – who walked the Oscars red carpet with her country singer husband Keith before packing on serious PDA during the show – as notably absent from Oscars luncheon that was attended by her Scientologist ex the month prior.

Tom was seen embracing Steven Spielberg during the February 13 luncheon, as the director was heard on video telling he action star that Maverick had ‘saved Hollywood’s a**’ by bringing audiences back to theaters.