Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta-Jones Vie for Liz Taylor Biopic
July 30, 2010— -- It could be the battle of the brunettes: Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones vying to play legendary Hollywood diva Elizabeth Taylor in a new film about her life.
According to "Entertainment Tonight," both Jolie, 35, and Zeta-Jones, 40, have expressed an interest in playing the dark-haired, violet-eyed screen legend. The film would tell of Taylor's storied romance with actor Richard Burton, based on Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger's book "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century." Mike Nichols would reportedly direct.
Hollywood sources have also floated Russell Crowe, Clive Owen and Colin Farrell as possible Burtons.
Jolie cast doubt on rumors of her involvement when US Weekly caught up with her on the red carpet last week. "She had never heard that she was slated to play her," senior editor Ian Drew told ABCNews.com. "She said no one could play Liz Taylor but herself."
It appears Taylor agrees with her. Though slowed by health problems, Taylor, 78, went on Twitter last week to respond to rumors about a film.
"Hold your horses world. I've been hearing all kinds of rumours about someone being cast to play me in a film about Richard and myself," she Tweeted. "No one is going to play Elizabeth Taylor, but Elizabeth Taylor herself."
