Madonna 'to star in Ritchie movie'

LONDON, England -- Madonna is reported to have been given a late wedding gift by her new husband, British film director Guy Ritchie -- a starring role in his next film.

The Queen of Pop, who tied the knot with Ritchie in Scotland three days before Christmas, will take the lead role in his latest gangster film called "The Mole," Britain's Daily Mirror tabloid newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"She plays an American girl who comes to England and is caught up in an underworld battle where the hunt is on to find a police informer in one of the gangs," a production insider on the movie told the newspaper.

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Madonna, 42, and Ritchie, 32, who directed the successful films "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" about gun-toting London gangsters, wanted to work together to avoid the pressure of having separate job commitments, according to the Mirror.

The movie will be based in London, where the couple have a home, and filming could start in March. Scripts are being finalised and casting for the film is "nearing completion", the paper said.

The newlyweds are on honeymoon at a 52 acre estate in southern England owned by British pop star, Sting.

Madonna's film career, although less conspicuous and prolific than that of her musical career, has spanned 15 years -- albeit with limited success.

Among her higher profile screen efforts have been major roles in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Who's That Girl (1987), Dick Tracey (1990) and an all-singing performance in Evita (1996).

Reuters contributed to this report.

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