Carey expected at Cannes for teen drama

The Cannes Film Festival gets a dose of diva glamour today with the screening of Mariah Carey’s new film.

The singer plays a social worker in 'Precious', a tough drama about an illiterate New York teenager pregnant with her father’s baby.

The film is in the festival’s 'Un Certain Regard' competition, which aims to recognise unusual and original films.

Carey is expected to join her co-stars, who include musician Lenny Kravitz, on the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals.

In the main competition, 'Bright Star', which tells the story of the poet John Keats’ love for his teenage neighbour and features a largely British cast and crew, has its official screening.

The poet is played by Ben Whishaw, who won plaudits – and a Royal Television Society award – for his part in TV drama 'Criminal Justice', while Abbie Cornish plays his love Fanny Brawne.