ALICIA KEYS - KEYS TO REPLACE JACKSON IN LENA HORNE BIOPIC?

LATEST: R+B star ALICIA KEYS has been tipped as the new favourite to play legendary singer and actress LENA HORNE, after JANET JACKSON was ousted from the role last week (ends27FEB04).

A spokeswoman for Jackson had announced the NASTY singer was effectively barred from LENA by Horne and her daughter GAIL

LUMET BUCKLEY, who were outraged when the star exposed her breast during the 1 February (04) SUPER BOWL final.

Horne refused to return her contract for the film until American TV network ABC guaranteed Jackson was no longer working

on the project. Although ABC bosses refused Horne's demand, Jackson walked out - and was quickly followed by executive

producers CRAIG ZADAN and NEIL MERON.

The project was then left in limbo as a result. But now, FALLIN' singer Keys has emerged as the industry favourite for the role - and the New York native admits it would be an honour.

She gushes, "I love Lena Horne!"

The potential offer also comes at a time when Keys is seriously thinking about following in her mother's footsteps and becoming an actress.

She says, "When I was young I used to fall asleep in the little theatre chair while she was on the stage. She's the one that introduced me to the passion of performing and I think that's one of the reasons why I feel that way. I think that (acting) is something I definitely wanna do... it's something that I've seen in such an organic way and I've fallen in love with it."