Winslett to star in Hollywood musical

Actress Kate Winslet is to star in a Hollywood musical, it was announced today.

She is to appear opposite Sopranos star James Gandolfini in all-singing, all-dancing spectacular Romance And Cigarettes.

The movie is being billed as a “savage, passionate and darkly comic” tale of one man’s infidelity and redemption.

Susan Sarandon also stars in the film which is to be produced by the Coen Brothers, the team behind Barton Fink and O Brother, Where Art Thou? and directed by actor John Turturro.

Winslet, 27, has never appeared in a screen musical before but has showed off her singing skills.

Two years ago she provided one of the voices for the animated version of A Christmas Carol and released a single from the soundtrack, What If?

Winslet is the latest star to turn her hand to musicals, which are all the rage in Hollywood after the extraordinary success of Chicago.

Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor revived interest in the genre with Moulin Rouge and Chicago followed it up by winning a clutch of Oscars, including an acting honour for Catherine Zeta Jones.