Actress Cornish well-versed for Keats romance

A file photo of Australian actress Abbie Cornish posing during a photocall at the 56th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin February 15, 2006. Cornish is in negotiations to play the mistress of John Keats in a period romance for director Jane Campion.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Australian actress Abbie Cornish, who recently starred opposite Russell Crowe in "A Good Year," is in negotiations to play the mistress of John Keats in a period romance for director Jane Campion.

"Bright Star," which Campion also wrote, is based on the three-year romance between the 19th century poet and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25. The production is eyeing a late summer or early fall start.

Cornish will appear in "Stop Loss," directed by Kimberly Peirce, coming later this year, as well as in the Cate Blanchett vehicle "The Golden Age," directed by Shekhar Kapur.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter