PAUL BETTANY - BETTANY STARTS THE COUNTDOWN TO DA VINCI CODE

British movie star PAUL BETTANY is getting ready for his role as DA VINCI CODE villain SILAS by dying his hair a platinum blond.

The DOGVILLE star showed off his new hairdo at the New York premiere of his wife JENNIFER CONNELLY's new movie DARK WATER on Monday night (27JUN05) and the OSCAR-winning actress admits she's bracing herself for her husband becoming a menacing albino for the film.

She says, "They're still looking on hair and make-up tests."

The movie, directed by RON HOWARD, will start shooting in Europe next month (JUL05).