By Joe O'Connell

Special to the American-Statesman

Friday, September 28, 2001

The mystery is over: Kate Winslet is the female lead in "The Life of David Gale," the mega-budget Universal flick set to begin filming in Austin Oct. 9.

Winslet, a two-time Oscar nominee for "Titanic" and "Sense and Sensibility," will play a newspaper reporter who sets out to prove the innocence of Kevin Spacey's character, a University of Texas professor and death penalty opponent who ends up on death row himself.

Nicole Kidman was in talks for the role, but instead opted to stick with George Clooney, who was coincidentally the original choice for Spacey's role. The pair are set to begin filming "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" any day now in Montreal.

Austin may have appealed to Winslet for its distance from her troubled home in London. She recently announced her split from husband Jim Threapleton, an assistant director.

Also joining the "David Gale" cast is Laura Linney, who was nominated for a best actress Oscar last year for "You Can Count on Me."

At the helm of the $50 million-plus film is Alan Parker, twice Oscar nominated himself for "Mississippi Burning" and "Midnight Express."

Spacey, who won Oscars for "American Beauty" and "The Usual Suspects," claimed a third statue this month when he purchased at auction one given to composer George Stoll in 1945 for his work on "Anchors Aweigh." According to the Hollywood Reporter, he'll donate it back to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.