Nicole's Post Baby Project

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

03 May 2008 11:30 PM

While her ex-husband is trying to keep his feet off Oprah's couch Nicole Kidman is maintaining her footing with movie studios.

The Oscar winner is not due to give birth for another two months, but reports say she has already signed on to star in her first major movie role post baby. According to Variety, Kidman is set to play legendary singer Dusty Springfield in a film chronicling her life. But not only has the Australian beauty agreed to star in the movie, but reports say she will produce it as well.

Kidman's return to the big screen will reunite her with writer Michael Cunningham, who also wrote the actress' Oscar-winning role in "The Hours." No release date for the film has been announced, though one would assume production wouldn't start on the flick until at least a couple months after Kidman gives birth this July.

Then again you never know... filming could start much sooner given that Universal films is developing its own Dusty Springfield biopic with "The West Wing" actress Kristin Chenoweth in the lead role. And that's not all--rumor has it that the 1960s British star whose tumultuous private life was marred by mental illness and substance abuse also caught the eye of Madonna, who reportedly expressed interest in starring in a TV movie about the troubled songstress.

For those of you who don't know, Springfield died from breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 59. The British diva is best known for hits such as "Son of a Preacher Man" and "I Only Want to be with You."

Frankly, I was a bit surprised that Kidman is so anxious to get back to work following the birth of her first baby with new husband Keith Urban. Granted, she did withdraw from the Stephen Daldry-directed post-World War II drama, "The Reader," shortly after she learned that she was pregnant (Kidman said she pulled out of the project because she was "concerned about the welfare of her unborn child"). However, at 40 years old, the winner of a slew of prestigious acting awards, and someone who is constantly dogged by the media, you'd think Kidman would want to step out of the public eye for at least a few months (if not an entire year) to bond with her new baby.

Guess we'll have to wait and see if motherhood changes her perspective on movie making.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger