Angelina Jolie is reportedly being lined up to play Nigella Lawson on the big screen.

The 'Maleficent' actress has been approached to portray the TV chef in a film about her life, according to The Sun newspaper.

A source told the paper: ''Angie had planned to take a lot of time off next year but this role is very tempting.

''She has been gripped like everyone else by all the drama surrounding Nigella these past few months and thinks she is a remarkable woman. The story has got it all - and she's as intrigued as anyone else by it.''

Nigella has had a turbulent year, divorcing her wealthy husband Charles Saatchi after photos emerged of him with his hands around her neck.

She then faced a grilling in court during the trial of her former aides Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo, who were acquitted of fraud last month, where she was forced to admit she had used cocaine and marijuana in the past.

After the ordeal, the curvy cook admitted to 'Good Morning America': ''I have to be honest, to have not only your private life but distortions of your private life put on display is mortifying, but there are people going through an awful lot worse and to dwell on it would be self-pity, and I don't want to do that.''