Wellington, Dec 16 : Nicole Kidman has angered Aboriginal groups by attempting to play a didgeridoo while promoting her new film `Australia' on a German television programme.

The stunt flouts an Aboriginal custom that dictates women are forbidden to play the instrument.

Kidman made the faux pas on the weekend during Wetten Das...?, a popular chat show.

Kidman's performance has been criticised by Aboriginal leaders, who said she should know better.

Allen Madden, cultural and educational officer at Sydney's Aboriginal Land Council said the film's director Baz Luhrmann should have educated his cast about Aboriginal traditions.

"I presume she doesn''t know, otherwise she wouldn''t be playing it. But [I would have thought] the women on that set would have told her," the NZPA quoted Madden, as saying.

"Baz should know something about it, after working with those traditional fellas on the film," Madden added.

Richard Green, an award-winning actor, screenwriter and Dharug language teacher, said he was disgusted.

"People are going to see Nicole playing it and think it''s all right. It bastardises our culture. I will guarantee she has no more children," he said.

"It''s not meant to be played by women as it will make them barren," he added.

The didgeridoo, or yirdaki, is said by some to make women infertile, and Green said he feared other women would imitate Kidman without realising its dangers. (ANI)