Melbourne, October 29 Nicole Kidman has been piped by rising star Sophie Lowe in the race for the AFI Best Actress award nomination.

Lowe, 19, beat the Hollywood heavyweight, 42, to claim the nomination for her feature film debut 'Beautiful Kate'.

"I wasn't expecting it. When they read my name out, I just blanked," News.com.au quoted Lowe as saying.

The movie has also been nominated in the Best Film category at next month's awards along with others including Balibo, Blessed, Mao's Last Dancer, Mary And Max and Samson and Delilah.

Kidman's 'Australia', starring Hugh Jackman, failed to bag a nomination in any of the major peer-voted categories. (ANI)