Faye Dunaway to portray Mae West

Variety reports that Faye Dunaway will play Mae West in the upcoming film The Calling. Although West is considered an icon of outspoken sexual expression, her own sexuality remains a subject of conjecture--in recent interviews, West's Myra Breckinridge costar Raquel Welch maintains her conviction that West was really a man. Dunaway will premiere her directorial debut short film, The Yellow Bird, at next week's Chicago International Film Festival, which is honoring her with its Career Achievement Award.