Jelena Jankovic is always hamming it up on court, laughing, wincing, and making incredible lunges to retrieve her opponent’s shots.
Her dramatic display against Serena Williams in the Australian Open semifinals even prompted the interviewer to ask Jankovic if she had any interest in an acting career. “I don’t think I’m acting on court,” Jankovic replied with a laugh. “This is real.”
But she does harbor hopes of being immortalized in film one day, and it looks like her on-court performances have already secured Jankovic her wish.
While the Serbian No. 1 has not officially signed on to any acting roles, she has expressed her desire to work with noted Serbian director Emir Kusturica, who has twice won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
She told the New York Times this August that he was the most famous person she had in her cell phone list of contacts.
Kusturica has reciprocated Jankovic’s sentiments, Serbian website mtsmondo.com has reported.
“Jelena is a phenomenal woman, and as far as I’m concerned, she can reckon that she already has a role. Feel free to tell her that I will find some role for her in my next movie.”
If the two are actually going to collaborate on a movie, it will take some planning as Jankovic is booked to play practically every week of the season. How does early December 2008 work for you, Mr. Kusturica?
Jankovic isn’t the only one who’s been bitten by the acting bug.
Amelie Mauresmo made a disappointing exit from Melbourne but will make her big screen debut in her native France this month, starring in an action flick, “Asterix,” alongside noted actors Gérard Depardieu, Alain Delon, and Clovis Cornillac.
The film, based on the hit comic book series of the same name, will focus around the Olympic Games. Other sports stars will also be involved in the film project, including David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Michael Schumacher.
The former World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam winner first announced her role in the movie in Australia earlier this year.
"It's a new experience, very interesting, it's fun to see the result," she said. Mauresmo will play the character “Amélix.”
While this is her first true acting role, she is not a stranger to the cameras, appearing in French programs “The 11 Commandments” and “The Footy Show,” in both of which she played herself.
“Asterix” hits movie screens in January 2008.
Maria Sharapova also made news this year when she signed on with second-tier television network, the CW, to co-produce a drama that revolved around the world of professional women’s tennis. While Sharapova’s role and level of involvement in the series is still unclear, it is just one more hat –or visor in her case – that she will be wearing if the idea reaches fruition.
And Serena Williams started the trend when she expressed her desire to pursue an acting career on the side. For the younger Williams sister, however, it proved to be a bit more intrusive, with some speculating that she was more focused on becoming an actress and playing tennis on the side.