Tak A Right Guid-Willie Waught

No, we don't know what that headline means either, but it's by Rabbie Burns and must therefore mean something profound and insightful. The great Scottish poet is coming to the big screen in the shapely form of the Phantom of the Opera himself, Gerard Butler. And playing his lady love will be none other than Julia Stiles. "Eh?", we hear you cry. "She isn't Scottish." Well, true, but when has that ever mattered? As long as she has a decent dialogue coach and some chemistry with Butler, she could do nicely. Her character is Jean Armour, Burns' wife and muse. She gave birth to Burns' illegitimate twins, but was allowed to marry Burns some time later when he became a celebrity. Sadly, she delivered his last child on the same day he died. Apart from Stiles the cast includes some of Scotland's finest. Along with Gerard Butler there's Brian Cox, John Hannah, James McAvoy, James Cosmo, David O'Hara and David Hayman, so at least she'll have some authentic accents to guide her. Vadim Jean (Leon the Pig Farmer) will direct the film, from a script by Alan Sharp, who returns to Scottish history after his previous foray in Rob Roy. It's too early to say how this will go, but do remember that Stiles herself has some Celtic blood