Lavigne models herself on Jolie and Ryder

Avril Lavigne is desperate to forge a serious movie career and follow in the footsteps of her idols Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder.

A cameo voicing an animal in animated movie Over The Hedge has given the pop star a taste for acting, and she is looking for "dark and complicated" roles to cut her teeth on.

Lavigne, 21, says: "I really admire Winona and Angelina, so those actress are the ones I'd love to emulate in serious drama roles.

"I'd like to do something dark and complicated. It would be like some of my music, and it would be another way for me to express myself."