Diva Duel: Who Plays Selena?

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By Newsweek Editors

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In 1987, every hollywood actress worth her mascara was scrambling for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind." Now another search is on--for another charismatic dark-haired beauty. On both sides of the Mexican-U.S. border, starlets are desperate to play Selena, the 23-year-old Tejano music sensation who was murdered last March. According to Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla, the family is about to sign a Hollywood deal for a feature film about her very short life. Although no one involved will discuss details yet, NEWSWEEK learned last week that at least two Mexcian-born actresses have been approached about the coveted part. Both are well known to fans of telenovelas, the Spanish-speaking TV soap operas popular both in Mexico and in the United States. Bibi Gaytan, 23, also a model, has been dubbed "Mexico's Cindy Crawford," and Salma Hayek, 27, appears in the movie "Deperado" (opening this week). Whether the anointed actress will actually sing Selena's songs--or just lip-sync--remains a secret. But she'll have to know both English and Spanish. With only a Southern drawl to learn for Scarlet, Vivien Leigh had it easy.

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