Naomi Watts joins J Edgar film

Los Angeles - Naomi Watts is to star in Clint Eastwood's biopic J. Edgar.

The Australian actress will star as the FBI director John Edgar Hoover's secretary of 54 years Helen Gandy, who after his death, destroyed his personal file containing incriminating material that he used to control powerful political figures.

Although Naomi, 42, was studio bosses' first choice for the role, feared schedule conflicts meant Charlize Theron was considered to step in - but she instead accepted the role of the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Huntsman and is also rumoured to be case in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

Now the King Kong star is confirmed, she will act opposite Leonardo DiCaprio - playing John - and Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick.

Veteran director Clint will work alongside production company Imagine's Brian Grazer and Ron Howard as well as his Malpaso partner Rob Lorenz to produce the movie.

Dame Judi Dench is also set to star as Hoover's mother.

Late last year Watts said she would love to star in a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

She revealed plans were afoot for the project, but no script had been written for her to sign up to.

She said: "It sounded like a good idea, but the script's not there yet. I'd love to have been a Hitchcock blonde."

"A few directors I've worked with have been heavily influenced by Hitchcock, so I feel like I've gotten close."