JENNIFER LOPEZ - LOPEZ PICKED TO PLAY OBERON BY THE DEAD STAR HERSELF

Late WUTHERING HEIGHTS star MERLE OBERON has sent celebrity psychic KENNY KINGSTON a message for JENNIFER LOPEZ from beyond the grave - 'Play me and win an Oscar'. The Hollywood medium claims he was contacted by Oberon while he was watching the Academy Awards telecast on Sunday (05MAR06) and she insisted he put the word around Tinseltown that Lopez should play her in a biopic. Kingston says, "Merle Oberon was stunned by Jennifer at the Oscars - Jennifer was wearing an identical gown to the one she wore to the Academy Awards when she was nominated for Best Actress back in 1935. Isn't that ironic? "Merle is a big fan and she thinks Jennifer has got the perfect exotic look to play her in a biopic. She's convinced the role will earn Jennifer her first Oscar." Oberon was born and grew up in India. She died, aged 68, of a massive stroke in 1979. She was known as QUEENIE THOMPSON until 1939 when her then-husband, ALEXANDER KORDA persuaded her to change her name. The actress overcame a car crash in London in 1937, which left her with severe facial scars.