How rivals compare
ANGELINA Jolie and Lady Gaga have gone to war over who will reign as Queen of Hollywood. Both stars are in a battle to land the coveted title role in a big-budget remake of Cleopatra.
Oscar winner Angelina, 43, has been in on-and-off talks for months with studio bosses at Sony.
But pop’s fast-rising actress Gaga, 32, is now also in the running following the box office success of A Star Is Born, her big-screen debut as a leading lady.
A senior production source at Sony confirmed: “Cleopatra was known as the Queen of the Nile and Elizabeth Taylor established herself as Hollywood’s queen in the 1963 film version. There’s every reason to think that whoever plays her this time will enjoy an equally lofty perch in the industry.”
That version 56 years ago won four Oscars and was billed as an epic. But Sony’s Cleopatra is being touted by producers Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal as a “dirty, bloody political thriller told from a feminist perspective”.
It will be based on US author Stacy Schiff’s 2010 best-seller Cleopatra: A Life and the producers were last week in talks with Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve, 51, to film it.
But all eyes are on the lead role. A source revealed: “Angelina has wanted this movie for some time. I think she may have assumed she was a shoo-in until Gaga made such an impression in A Star Is Born. It’s obvious Gaga is dynamite and capable of holding together a demanding movie with high expectations. But it may come down to an audition, pretty rare for A-listers.”
A close friend of Gaga said: “She doesn’t care who else wants it, Angelina included. She is going to do everything to make sure she wins this role.”
MAJOR AWARDS Angelina:
One Oscar, three Golden Globes.
Six Grammys, three Brit Awards, one Emmy.
Lady Gaga: FASHION SENSE Angelina:
Wore a phial containing the blood of second husband Billy Bob Thornton around her neck. Wore a “raw meat” dress at the 2010 MTV Awards.
Lady Gaga: LOVE & CHILDREN Angelina:
Divorcing third husband Brad Pitt. Six children, three of whom are adopted.
Reportedly planning to tie the knot with talent agent Christian Carino.
Lady Gaga: NET WORTH Angelina:
$160million (about £125.3million), according to
Forbes magazine.
$275million (£215million), according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Lady Gaga: GREATEST HITS Angelina:
Two films in the blockbuster original Tomb Raider franchise, Mr & Mrs Smith, Girl, Interrupted (for which she won her Oscar), Salt and Maleficent.
Born This Way, Bad Romance, Joanna and a string of other Top 10 hits; American Horror Story (TV); A Star Is Born (film).
‘Gaga will do all she can to win it’
Lady Gaga: