Singer Scott on the case as `perfect` choice for Botswana detective role

source: Scotsman.com News
TIM CORNWELL ARTS CORRESPONDENT (tcornwell@scotsman.com)

SHE was voted one of the world's most beautiful women and her extraordinary vocal skills have won her two coveted Grammy awards.

Now the American jazz and blues singer Jill Scott, 35, faces the challenge of playing the "traditionally built" Botswana heroine of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Scott has won the central role in the television series of the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, penned by the Edinburgh author Alexander McCall Smith, it was confirmed yesterday.

A 90-minute pilot costing £20 million is being filmed in Botswana, where the stories of Mma Ramotswe, the philosophical but persistent lady detective, are set. It is directed by Anthony Minghella, who made The English Patient.

The shortlist for the role is said to have included the rap star and actress Queen Latifah, as well as the former Botswanan minister of health, after a sustained effort to find a Botswanan actress.

But a publicist for author Alexander McCall Smith confirmed Ms Scott's selection after the news began leaking out.

The screenwriter Richard Curtis, who co-wrote the script with Minghella, told The Scotsman: "I'm delighted and think she'll be great - but I'll know more after I've been to the read through in Botswana next week.

"It was Anthony Minghella who found her, and told me to check her out on the web, where she does indeed look perfect."

Jill Scott grew up in Pennsylvania and studied to be a teacher before she began performing poetry readings.

She became a singer after [continue reading]