Fifty Shades Of Grey Movie: Shailene Woodley Favourite For Lead Role

The 20-year-old actress, Shailene Woodley, best known for staring alongside George Clooney in The Descendents, has caught the eye of the British writer E.L. James to take on the role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey movie.

Woodley, who received a Golden Globe nod for her performance alongside Clooney, was first touted for the role in The Hollywood Reporter who said, "Shailene Woodley demonstrated her acting chops in the Oscar-nominated The Descendants and is said to have caught the eye of Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James." Jennifer Lawrence is also in line to take on the sought-after roll too, having made a huge impression as the lead in The Hunger Games trilogy. Emma Watson was also strongly linked to the role but recently dismissed rumours that she has been approached to play the lead role of Ana Steele. Youngsters Lucy Hale and Ashley Benson have also been linked to the coveted part, whilst screen veteran Angelina Jolie has apparently voiced her desire to take on the lead role - although her age might rule her out of contention.

Since being published last year, the notoriously raunchy Fifty Shades Of Grey has now sold more than 5.3 million copies to British readers alone, making it the UK's biggest-selling book of all time. The film adaptation will begin as soon as the cast has been chosen.