Pop star Natalie Imbruglia is making her film debut starring opposite UK comedian Rowan Atkinson in Working Title Films' spy spoof, Johnny English.

The former Neighbours actress will play special agent Lorna Campbell, while John Malkovich will be the villain, a French megalomaniac called Sauvage. Atkinson, who appeared in Bond film Never Say Never Again, plays a hapless MI6 agent on a mission to rescue Britain's crown jewels and save the country and the monarchy. Ben Miller, whose credits include The Parole Officer, plays Johnny's sidekick Bough.

"I am absolutely delighted to be working with such revered actors on my first movie," said Imbruglia, whose Left Of The Middle album went double platinum. "This is a really exciting project and I can't wait to get started".

Sliding Doors' Peter Howitt is directing, with production to start on April 15 at Shepperton Studios and on location in England. The original screenplay is by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the writers of the current Bond film Die Another Day and The World Is Not Enough, and William Davies.

Working Title co-chiefs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are producing with Mark Huffam.