Natalie Portman and Eddie Izzard Vying for Sally Bowles Role  6/28/06

Hollywood beauty Natalie Portman and cross-dressing Brit Eddie Izzard are going head-to-head for the chance to play Sally Bowles in the London theatre production of Cabaret.

The Star Wars actress, 25, and Ocean's Twelve star Izzard, 44, are desperate to play Liza Minnelli's film role on the West End stage.

A theatre source tells British newspaper Daily Express, "Eddie is an inspired choice and looks great in women's clothes - but he's unlikely to go down well with purists.

"Yet as a Hollywood star, Natalie's incredibly bankable and she's an accomplished dancer. She's also much prettier."