Charlize Theron has been tipped to play Anna Nicole Smith in a film about her life. The actress is movie bosses' first choice to star as the Playboy Playmate who married an 89-year-old oil billionaire and died aged just 39 last week.

A source revealed: "You couldn't make up a life story like Anna's. Studios are falling over themselves to pay tribute to an incredible woman. There are a number of actresses earmarked to play Anna, with Charlize the favorite."

This won't be the first time the 31-year-old South African has played a controversial real-life character. Charlize won an Oscar in 2004 for her portrayal of US serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster.