AMERICAN IDOL - TAMYRA GRAY TAKES ON GAY ROLE

AMERICAN IDOL finalist TAMYRA GRAY has taken on a real challenge in her fledging acting career, by playing a lesbian in sitcom HALF + HALF.

Gray, who was snapped up for a role in the hit drama BOSTON PUBLIC shortly after she was ousted from American Idol last year (02), admits she thought twice about playing her new character.

She says, "I didn't really know till I got the script that I would be playing a lesbian, but it's lighthearted.

"I read it and I thought, 'This is going to help me pursue being an actress. It only gives me more practice doing a complicated role.'

"Once I got on the set and got to know everybody and got comfortable with my character, it wasn't difficult."

Gray is also working on her debut album, which will feature a duet with American Idol victor KELLY CLARKSON and is expected to hit stores in the spring (04).