Rachel Weisz to portray Old Hollywood icon Lamarr?

Rachel Weisz

Credit: AP Photo/Carlo Allegri

British actress Rachel Weisz may be polishing up her best Austrian accent to portray '40s movie icon Hedy Lamarr in forthcoming "Face Value." Directed by Amy Redford, daughter of Robert, the indie film focuses on the unusual life of the Old Hollywood actress and her second life as a scientist.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oscar winner Weisz is loosely connected to the film, though Charlize Theron's name was batted around for the part as well.

Written by Jose Rivera and Gretchen Somerfeld, the script for "Face Value" exposes Lamarr's scientific contributions to frequency-hopping, which informs today's wireless technologies. These studies came prior to and amidst some of the Austrian-born actress' biggest movies, including 1949's largest grossing film "Samson and Delilah," the sensual "Ecstasy" and comedy "My Favorite Spy."

This film venture won the TFI Sloan Filmmaker grant at the Sundance Institute last year and is produced by Nimbus Pictures.

Weisz can be seen in at least two new films this year, including Alejandro Amenabar's epic "Agora" and "The Brothers Bloom," directed by Rian Johnson ("Brick"). She will also appear in "The Lovely Bones" and "Dirt Music."

Amy Redford's first directorial contribution came with last year's "The Guitar," which premiered at Sundance.