Classic Italian style was the order of the day when Nicole Kidman stepped out in Rome this week. The Oscar-winning actress caused quite a stir in the working class neighbourhood of Testaccio when she arrived to film a new advertisement.

In the clip she plays a normal Italian woman who dreams of a better life. The recently married star is seen chatting with neighbours and doing her shopping in the tiny streets that surround her tenement home.

But although her character obviously enjoys a friendly relationship with the local residents, the district’s real-life inhabitants weren’t quite so impressed when a film crew turned up on their doorstep. Production was delayed by six hours after members of the community, who woke the find their narrow streets obstructed by TV vans and equipment, decided to block access to the location.

The people of Testaccio, who also felt rather put out when producers told them to stay indoors for the duration of the shoot, eventually accepted an offer of £17,000 in compensation from Sky Italia. “We had nothing against Nicole,” said a representative for the residents. “She was fantastic and smiled and waved to us and even said ‘ciao’ in Italian which was very nice of her.”