Reese Witherspoon Catches Fever to Play Peggy Lee

By  · Published on August 10th, 2010

Reese Witherspoon must have finally realized that playing Golden Era singers is the key to Oscar glory. She’s personally hunted down the life rights from the Peggy Lee estate to star as the iconic singer for a life-spanning biopic.

Lee had the kind of voice that was poured out of a coffee grinder ‐ she could hit this clean bass note that carried the rest of the smooth, bright tones right on through the line. That will most likely be the biggest challenge for Witherspoon and/or the biggest challenge for whoever is hired to sing the role. Best of luck trying to match Peggy Lee.

The great news is that a biopic of her should also include casting for Benny Goodman, Goodman guitarist Dave Barbour, Perry Como, Jimmy Durante, Danny Thomas, and Walt Disney.

It will be interesting to see an Academy Award winner play an Academy Award nominee (Lee was nominated for playing a drunken blues singer in Pete Kelly’s Blues) but it will be even more fascinating to see this salty, sweet woman brought to life. If any musician deserves a biopic, it’s her.

Plus, I’m sure Wanda Jackson might make an appearance in there somewhere. [Variety]

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