London, Aug 10

Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon is set to play late jazz singer Peggy Lee in a new movie based on her life.

The "Walk The Line" star has secured the rights from Peggy's estate to make a film and has lined up "Julie and Julia" director Nora Ephron to write as well as helm the movie, reports contactmusic.com.

Witherspoon will co-produce the film, which will chart the ups and downs of Peggy's incredible career and personal life.

Peggy died in 2002 at the age of 81. Her career spanned nearly seven decades and she was an accomplished singer, actress, songwriter, composer and a Grammy Award winner.