Nicole Kidman has been forced to clarify comments that Americans should support President-elect Donald Trump as a statement of her belief in democracy, not an endorsement of the incoming president.

The Australian actress’s remarks sparked both criticism and praise online after they were aired by the BBC.

“He [Donald Trump] is now elected and we, as a country, need to support whoever is the president, because that’s what the country is based on,” she told BBC.

“However that happened, he’s there and let’s go.”

Her comments run contrary to what many celebrities have said about Mr Trump in the wake of his election – including her The Hours co-star Meryl Streep, who attacked the President-elect during the Golden Globes.

Following her remarks, Kidman found herself the subject of criticism on social media.

The Oscar winner’s statement was widely considered dismissive of the potential problems of a Trump presidency.

@thehill Botox has clearly gotten to her brain. Next.

— NYTNarrative (@NYTNarrative) January 12, 2017

https://twitter.com/SheWhoVotes/status/820180243793068032

.@NicoleKidman Nicole Kidman encourages people to support @realDonaldTrump! Way to go! Welcome aboard the Trump Train! pic.twitter.com/gCCONowKj0

— Pamela Moore (@Pamela_Moore13) January 12, 2017

But in an interview with Access Hollywood, Kidman set the record straight saying her comments were misconstrued.

“I was trying to stress that I believe in democracy and the American Constitution, and it was that simple,” she said.

When asked to elaborate further on the backlash and her stance she threw up her hands and said she was done talking about Mr Trump.

“I’m out of it now. That’s what I said and it’s that simple,” she said.

Kidman, 49, told BBC in her initial interview that she was “reticent to start commenting politically” and prefers to keep her views on Australian and American politics to herself.

She was born in Hawaii to Australian parents and holds dual citizenship in Australia and the United States.

Zoe Saldana accused the acting industry of bullying Trump. Photo: Getty

Meanwhile, sci-fi star Zoe Saldana has spoken out against the acting community for bullying Mr Trump.

The Star Trek, Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy star — who is not a supporter of the Republican President-elect — said insults flung at him during the race for the White House turned off much of middle America.

“We got cocky and became arrogant and we also became bullies,” said the 38-year-old actress, who was born in the United States to Puerto Rican and Dominican parents.

“We were trying to single out a man for all these things he was doing wrong… and that created empathy in a big group of people in America that felt bad for him and that are believing in his promises.”

Watch the full BBC interview below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irfvohXZX3g

-with AAP