JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS - RHYS-MEYERS TO PLAY ELVIS

Irish actor JONATHAN RHYS-MEYERS has landed his biggest role to date - as legendary rocker ELVIS PRESLEY.

The Dublin native, who has appeared in such films as BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM and ALEXANDER, beat out almost 500 hopefuls for the chance to play the rock 'n' roll icon in a two-part mini-series called ELVIS for American TV.

Bosses were so eager to have Rhys-Meyers in the role, they didn't even audition him.

HOWARD BRAUNSTEIN, one of the project's executive producers, says of the actor, "He has both the physical look and the style hat embodies Elvis, both the sweetness and the sex appeal."

CAMRYN MANHEIM, formerly of THE PRACTICE, will play his mother, while RANDY QUAID will take on the role of manager COLONEL TOM PARKER and ROSE McGOWAN will portray ANN-MARGRET.

Filming is set to begin on 10 January (05) in New Orleans, Louisiana, with May set as the air date.