JAMES STEWART - BIOGRAPHY REVEALS STEWART 'PRESUMED GAY'

One of Hollywood's most notorious womanisers, JAMES STEWART, was presumed gay by movie bosses because he was initially so shy with girls. A new biography of the IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE star reveals the young actor was sent to a brothel on arriving in Tinseltown in 1936 and ordered to bed "at least two" prostitutes. Author MARC ELIOT insists Stewart was crippled with shyness, and failed to convince MGM studio heads of his rampant heterosexuality until underlings sent to accompany the star to the whorehouse gave glowing feedback. He was since linked to a string of movie beauties including MARLENE DIETRICH, LORETTA YOUNG, GINGER ROGERS, LANA TURNER and RITA HAYWORTH. Stewart died in 1997. JIMMY STEWART - A BIOGRAPHY is due in shops in October (06).