Rihanna: I’d love to play Whitney

RIHANNA has revealed she would “love” to portray the late Whitney Houston on the big screen.

The Talk That Talk singer, who makes her acting debut in Peter Berg’s sci-fi action adventure Battleship, shrugged off rumours she was in the running to play Houston in a forthcoming biopic but admitted she would be honoured to take the role.

“I didn’t get that call yet,” said the 24-year-old, adding: “That would be something that I would have to give my entire life to do, because I would want to really pull it off. That’s a huge, huge role and whoever does it has to do a good job.”

Houston, 48, died on 11 February in California, hours before she was to attend a pre-Grammy Awards party.

Her record label boss and friend Clive Davis is reportedly at the helm of the planned film, with Jennifer Hudson also on the shortlist.

Rihanna – whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty – considers Houston a musical inspiration. “I met her at a Clive Davis party. I love her. She’s one of my big music icons, and I have always looked up to her,” she said.

“My first song that I remember falling in love with was a Whitney Houston song – I Will Always Love You.”

She added: “All of her music actually was always played in my house, with Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

“It was really inspiring and it made me develop a passion for music, so really she’s partly responsible for me being here in this industry.”