The Role of a Lifetime

I've always been amazed that Jack Nicholson keeps winning Academy Awards for simply playing himself. In real life, Jack Nicholson is an oafish slob. When he behaves (I won't call it acting) as an oafish slob in a movie, it's called "art and he is given little statues to set on his mantle alongside empty bourbon bottles.

Sean Penn, however, is taking on a real challenge. He's planning to portray a smart person. Now that's what I call real acting.

Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn may wind up portraying legendary physicist Albert Einstein for a joint U.S.-Italian TV film production.

Penn, 46, is reportedly interested in working with writer/director Liliana Cavani, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Tuesday.

The project is a joint effort between the U.S. premium cable TV network HBO and Italy's RAI state broadcaster, ANSA said.

An RAI spokesman said Penn appears enthusiastic about the project.

"He's read the screenplay and he likes it," RAI's Agostino Sacca told ANSA.

Frankly, I suspect that somebody read it for him.