Theron to play Susan McDougal?

U.S. News & World Report is reporting that a movie about Susan McDougal is in the works, and Charlize Theron (below) will play the lead. Very cool - a great story that should be told, portrayed by an actress with sex appeal. Of course, Jay Leno made the joke that if this is the case, Bill Clinton will play himself. The blurb from U.S. News:

Susan McDougal, the bit player of the Clinton-era Whitewater scandal, is making a comeback. We hear that Hollywood producers are looking at making a story of her life. You remember her: She was the young woman once married to scandal figure Jim McDougal who went to jail for 18 months instead of testifying. Moviemakers like Paul Haggis of Oscar winners Crash and Million Dollar Baby were in Little Rock last week scouting locations, and word is that Charlize Theron is their McDougal choice.

I've had McDougal's book, Susan McDougal: The Woman Who Wouldn't Talk, for some time, but I'm yet to read it, so I'll have to put that on my extensive summer reading list. I've no doubt it's a great read. If you're interested in the book, it's now available on Amazon.com, in paper back for $5.99.

Before I even read the book, I'm going into it thinking that Susan McDougal was the victim of a political witch hunt by Whitewater Special Prosecutor Kenneth W. Starr. She wouldn't give Starr what he wanted - to smear the Clintons so she was convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy relating to the Whitewater after she refused to answer questions on the witness stand.

She's got courage, moxie and verve, and if a movie is being made about her, she sure deserves it.