Studio issues image of Naomi Watts as Princess Diana

LONDON: Movie company Ecosse Films on Wednesday released the first image of British-born actress Naomi Watts in the role of Princess Diana in an upcoming biopic of the late royal, "Diana".

The film, likely to generate intense media interest in Britain and the United States where the late princess was hugely popular, had originally been titled "Caught in Flight".

A statement from Ecosse said the film would be a "compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales during the final two years of her life.

"It charts how finding true personal happiness allowed her to achieve her defining successes, as she evolved into a major international campaigner and humanitarian," it added.

There has been speculation in the media that the plot will explore Diana's relationships in the period leading up to her death in a Paris car crash in 1997 aged 36.

One of those was believed to have been with Hasnat Khan, a British-Pakistani surgeon who is being played by British actor Naveen Andrews. Douglas Hodge and Juliet Stevenson will also star.

Diana divorced heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles in 1996, and her untimely death sparked an outpouring of public grief that culminated in huge crowds lining the streets of London for her funeral.

Perhaps aware of the controversy a big screen portrayal of such a popular figure could cause, Ecosse directors Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae said: "Everyone's aim is to produce a truly insightful and compassionate study of Diana's later years."

Directing the movie will be German Oliver Hirschbiegel, best known for the Oscar-nominated Hitler drama "Downfall". Diana began shooting this week, and no release date has yet been announced.

Naomi Watts to play Princess Diana in biopic

LONDON: British-Australian actress Naomi Watts is to play Britain's Princess Diana in a movie about the late royal's final two years, filmmakers have announced.

Producers said "Caught in Flight" would focus on a period when Diana, the former wife of heir to the throne Prince Charles, found "true personal happiness" shortly before her death in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

Diana wed Charles in a glittering ceremony in 1981, but the unhappy marriage ended in 1996. Charles wed his long-time companion Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.

Watts, who won widespread critical acclaim for her role as Betty Elms in the 2001 psychological thriller "Mulholland Drive", said it was an honour to be able to play the "iconic role" of the woman known as the "People's Princess".

"Princess Diana was loved across the world and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen," said the 44-year-old, who also won an Oscar nomination for her role as a recovering drug addict in "21 Grams".

The movie about the Princess of Wales, who was just 36 when she died, will be directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, best known for his epic 2004 film "Downfall" about the final days of Hitler. (AFP)

Naomi Watts now Australia's highest earning actress

Naomi Watts has been named Australia's highest earning actress.

She was placed at number three on BRW magazine's list of the country's wealthiest entertainers with earnings of 12 million pounds, the Daily Express reported.

Watts has been placed behind Global Creatures - the group responsible for Walking with Dinosaurs, the Arena Spectacular - and children's entertainers The Wiggles.

She beat her childhood friend Nicole Kidman who is in fifth place with 11.8 million pounds.

Naomi Watts"playing Marilyn Monroe in biopic"

Naomi Watts has revealed that she's extremely scared about playing Marilyn Monroe in a new biopic.

The actress is set to play the iconic screen siren in an adaptation of Andrew Dominik''s ''Blonde'' and she admitted the nerves about the part are getting to her.

"It''s a huge pressure. We all feel we know her. I''m very, very scared about that," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

Watts is not the only star to be portraying Marilyn in a movie about her life - Michelle Williams is also set to play her in ''My Week With Marilyn''.

Poolside Fun With Samuel

Enjoying the beautiful springtime weather, Naomi Watts was spotted chilling out by the pool at her exclusive Five Stars Luxury hotel Eden Roc on (May 18).

Joined by her little boy Samuel Kai Schreiber, the “21 Grams” babe looked lovely in a black swimsuit as she spent some quality mother-son bonding time.

In career news, Naomi is gearing up for an awesome new film role- she’ll play Marilyn Monroe in the biopic “Blonde.”

The movie is based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel and follows Marilyn’s relationships with John F. Kennedy and Joe DiMaggio.

Naomi Watts thinks her children are going to be "f**ked up".

The Hollywood actress - who has sons Alexander, two, and 10-month-old Samuel with actor and director Liev Schreiber - is making the most of her kids' "innocent" years because she thinks they'll be troublesome in the future.

She said: "They're so surprising and endlessly fascinating and soon they're going to have problems. Now they're just innocent little beings, learning and growing, but soon they'll be all f***ed up."

Despite having children of her own, the 41-year-old beauty is still confused as to how babies are made.

She told Britain's Independent newspaper: "I'm a mother and the whole concept is science fiction. It is just bizarre. I still can't believe when I look at my children that they came from one little moment and they're people. They're babies and people and they learn and figure out all these things and you go, 'God, I can't believe it.' "

The blonde beauty also revealed was unsure she wanted children when she first started out as an actress and didn't change her mind until she fell in love with Liev.

She explained: "Certainly, at the beginning, when things were taking off for me in America, I was on the treadmill and I didn't want to have a relationship particularly. I come from a background where work seemed like a good option. But now I've changed a lot. I've slowed down and have a family now. When I met Liev, things changed."