Lady Gaga to play Cilla Black in Dionne Warwick biopic

Lady Gaga is the surprise choice to star as Cilla Black in a film about the life of soul singer Dionne Warwick.

The biopic, Dionne, will touch on the rivalry between the US soul singer and Liverpudlian singer and TV star Black, who died last year at the age of 72.

Warwick said that Black, who got to number one in 1963 with her cover of Warwick's Anyone Who Had A Heart, "stole her music."

Warwick, who is also known for hits including I Say A Little Prayer, Walk On By, Do You Know the Way to San Jose and That's What Friends Are For, appeared at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday to announce the project, which is based on her memoir My Life As I See It.

The 75-year-old told reporters she regarded Black as her nemesis.

Former Destiny's Child singer LeToya Luckett will play Warwick, while Danny Glover plays her father and Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis will make an appearance as Marlene Dietrich.

Bad Romance singer Lady Gaga has turned to acting over the past two years, starring in US television series American Horror Story.

Black has also been played by Sheridan Smith in Cilla, a TV movie about her rise to fame.

Representatives for the late star's estate said: "We think Lady Gaga is fabulous. She’s a great actress and we really look forward to seeing her portrayal."