King Edward's Madonna mistress

Feb 16, 2009, 10:05 GMT

Madonna wants to make a film about the mistress of Britain's King Edward VIII.

The 50-year-old singer - who is in the process of divorcing director Guy Ritchie - is keen to play American socialite Wallis Simpson, after becoming fascinated by the twice-divorced beauty's life.

The '4 Minutes' singer has even written to Queen Elizabeth to ask permission to make the film about the monarch's uncle.

A friend told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Madonna sees Wallis Simpson as her next big film project. She is as passionate about it as she was about playing Eva Peron in 'Evita'.

"Madonna said she is fascinated about this American commoner who refused to conform or offer explanations for her tangled love life.

"It was all systems go until the divorce, when everything was put on the back-burner. When things in her life settle down this year, she's keen to get things going again."

Edward was forbidden from marrying Wallis because she was divorced. In 1936, he gave up the throne so he could be with her.

The pair married and moved to France, where they lived out their lives as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Edward's brother, George VI - the queen's father - replaced him as king.