FAYE DUNAWAY AND MICHAEL YORK TO PLAY EDWARD AND WALLIS

February 13, 2003Feb 13, 2003, 11:00 PM GMT

Faye Dunaway has been signed up to play the Duchess of Windsor in a film about her affair with a homosexual playboy. The role of Edward VIII will be played by Michael York in the £5- million British production to be titled The Bahama Triangle.

Wallis Simpson's romance with Jimmy Donahue, the American heir to the Woolworths fortune, took place in the Fifties, after she had married Edward. It remained secret until three years ago, however, when a book was published blowing the whistle on her infidelity. The affair lasted four years, despite the fact that Jimmy was 20 years her junior and openly gay.

Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestly is being tipped for the role of Jimmy Donahue, though his participation has yet to be confirmed.

The news comes soon after reports that Gwyneth Paltrow is to play the Duchess in a BBC film about the Windsors' relationship. The Bahama Triangle will focus on Wallis' romantic adventures later on in life, however. Both productions come hot on the heels of last month's release of intelligence files relating to the American divorcee's affairs.

Faye, who won an Oscar for her performance in the 1976 drama Network, will play Wallisy

Michael York will meanwhile take on the role of Edward VIII, who abdicated in order to marry his American lover

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