Natalie Portman is set to play Lady Macbeth on the big screen.

The 'Black Swan' actress has signed on to star as the scheming wife of the Scottish nobleman in a new Shakespeare film adaptation from See Saw Films.

It was announced yesterday (30.04.13) that Michael Fassbender had taken on the role of Macbeth in 'Snowtown' director Justin Kurzel's upcoming motion picture, based on a script from Todd Louiso and Jacob Koskoff.

Natalie - who has considered several stage productions of the tragedy in the past - will have to get to grips with Shakespearean dialogue as the film will be very close to the Bard's original text, according to Screen Daily.

The Oscar-winner is used to dark roles and should have no trouble playing ruthless Lady Macbeth, who goads her husband into killing the King of Scotland so she can become Queen, but suffers from terrible guilt after the event.

The 31-year-old actress has recently wrapped filming with Fassbender on Terrence Malick's latest untitled project, and the pair were also due to co-star in western 'Jane Got A Gun' before the 'Shame' actor pulled out.

Natalie will next be seen in another Malick movie, 'Knight Of Cups', and in superhero sequel 'Thor: The Dark World'.