Princess of Hearts

Serena (sister of Kristin) Scott Thomas and Caroline (a one-time Miss Moneypenny) Bliss have "done" her on screen.

Now Naomi Watts, the 43-year-old, Sussex-born actress is to play Princess Diana in Caught in Flight, which will deal with the last two years of a controversial life that ended in a tragic Paris road accident in 1997.

Currently in J Edgar, Watts, whose films have ranged from Mulholland Drive and King Kong to The Ring and 21 Grams, notes of her new role: "It's such an honour to be able to play this iconic role. Pricess Diana was loved across the world and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on the screen."

The film will be directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, best know for Downfall, his biopic of Hitler, and several episodes of the TV series, Borgia.