Keisha Castle-Hughes is to star in the lead role as the Virgin Mary in
Nativity, according to Variety.
The 15-year-old, who toplined 2003's
Whale Rider, will portray Mary over the two-year period leading up to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Catherine Hardwicke is directing Mike Rich's script.
Castle-Hughes, a native of Australia who moved to New Zealand when she was four, starred last year as the Queen of Naboo in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith."
Nativity is being fast-tracked, with shooting to begin in May in Italy and Morocco; aim is to release the pic the first weekend of December.