Reese Witherspoon to Play Peggy Lee in Untitled Biopic

Variety reports that Reese Witherspoon is currently in discussions to play Peggy Lee in an untitled biopic.

Apparently Witherspoon went after the rights to the singer/songwriter's life story herself so that she could depict Lee onscreen. The project is being set up at Fox 2000, and Nora Ephron (Julie & Julia) is attached to write and direct the biopic.

Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer and actress in a career spanning nearly seven decades. From her beginnings as a vocalist on local radio, to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she was forging her own sophisticated persona, Lee evolved into a multi-faceted artist and performer. She wrote music for films, acted, and created conceptual record albums—encompassing poetry, jazz, chamber pop, art songs, and other genres.

Lee's professional life began with #1 hits in the early 1940's, placing her at the forefront of mainstream jazz. Continuing to perform well into the 1990's, Lee also appeared onscreen in a number of films, including Michael Curtiz's remake of The Jazz Singer and (in several voice roles) in Disney's Lady and the Tramp.

You may remember back in 2006 that Witherspoon ended up winning an Oscar for her work as June Carter in Fox 2000's Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. Could Peggy Lee win her an Best Actress Oscar?