Murphy kept her music career secret

Actress Brittany Murphy insists fans shouldn't be surprised to hear she can sing, because she has been recording anonymously for years.

The Just Married star is embarking on a pop career with the help of top British DJ Paul Oakenfold, but she admits working on her so-called debut album wasn't the first time she has set foot in a recording studio.

Murphy reveals: "I've been singing anonymously my whole life… I've sung the hooks on a lot of rap and R&B songs - I just never took the credit.

"Music has been a part of my soul since I was born. It's something that I've always done, but I've done it very quietly. Now I guess this is the beginning of doing it not so quietly."

Friends always knew the actress had a great voice after accompanying her on trips to karaoke bars.

She explains: "I'm a serious karaoke aficionado. I even have a T-shirt that says 'I love Karaoke'."

And talented Murphy confesses to being a proficient musician too: "I can play any instrument - just give me 20 minutes. I can play a little bit of everything by ear. The only thing I actually stuck to for a while was the trumpet."

Murphy's debut single Faster Kill Pussycat is released next month.