The black Sinatra

THE record shows he took the blows and did it his way but when it comes to who should play him in a movie, not even Sinatra himself could have second-guessed this.

COOL IS COLOUR BLIND Insiders say Foxx was born to play Sinatra COOL IS COLOUR BLIND: Insiders say Foxx ‘was born to play Sinatra'

As Cannes Film Festival-goers speculated excitedly last night about who would be cast as history’s greatest crooner, with George Clooney, Leonardo di Caprio, Harry Connick Jnr and Justin Timberlake all hotly tipped, one name stood out.

It was black American actor, stand-up comic and singer Jamie Foxx who was causing jaws to drop but asked about his suitability, a well-placed industry insider insisted: “Cool is colour-blind. Jamie would seem to be born to the role.”

The source went on: “Magnificent singing voice, totally convincing acting ability, like Frank himself, born the wrong side of the tracks, rags to riches, makes it big against the odds, has his brushes with authority. The guy’s a gift.”

Foxx, 41, was adopted as a baby by his grandparents and raised a strict Baptist in a racially segregated Texan community.

He first rose to prominence in 1999, in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday and won a Best Actor Oscar as Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray. As a singer he has a string of hit albums.

After many years the Sinatra clan has at last agreed to Martin Scorsese directing a biopic but how far they will let him delve into the dark side of Ol’ Blue Eyes, who died 11 years ago at the age of 82, and whether they will sanction Foxx in the role remains to be seen.

The FBI kept a 2,500-page dossier on Sinatra, who counted Mafia mobsters among his friends.

From links with prostitutes to adultery with stunning actress Ava Gardner that led to divorce from first wife Nancy, there is plenty to get excited about.

If Jamie Foxx can make it there, he’ll make it anywhere. Start spreading the news...

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